All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night (ELW 565)
Devotion
1All praise to thee, my God, this night
for all the blessings of the light.
Keep me, oh, keep me, King of kings,
beneath thine own almighty wings.
2Forgive me, Lord, for thy dear Son,
the ill that I this day have done;
that with the world, myself, and thee,
I, ere I sleep, at peace may be.
3Teach me to live, that I may dread
the grave as little as my bed.
Teach me to die, that so I may
rise glorious at the awesome day.
4Oh, may my soul in thee repose,
and may sweet sleep mine eyelids close,
sleep that shall me more vig'rous make
to serve my God when I awake!
5Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise God, all creatures here below;
praise God above, ye heav'nly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Text: Thomas Ken, 1637-1711, alt.
Thomas Ken's evening hymn ends with a familiar prayer, the Doxology. The Trinitarian nature of this stanza points us to God as the Father, the one who blesses us with love and kindness; to Jesus the Son, who dwells among and brings redemption to all of creation; and to the Holy Spirit, who leads us in praise with all the saints. Ken reminds us to praise God through the night.
In my own family we use these familiar words as a prayer before meals. I'll be the first to admit that I've never thought much about the words. So now as I dwell in the familiar, I find it to be a simple reminder to give thanks to God who is our creator and redeemer. May you also find new meaning in this prayer!
Prayer
Gracious God, you are deserving of all praise! Continue to remind us that in our weakness you make us strong. Be with us in all that comes our way. Amen.