A prayer for the close of the day

The following is a post on Pastor Rich Kannwischer's blog. I came across it the other day. It helped me. Maybe it can help someone else.

A friend over lunch recently shared with me his struggle with taking work home at the end of the day. He may not have a lot in the briefcase, but the tensions and work seems incomplete, following him to his family. I agreed that as a pastor the work seems never done. There is always another phone call to make, another tweak of the sermon or lesson, another new relationship to build. These are wonderful problems to have, but it does make it hard to feel a sense of completion at the end of a day.

So I shared with him a prayer that I keep near my computer at the office. It is a prayer I regularly say at the close of a day's work.

"Gracious Father, you have kept me this day even without my knowing. As the shadows now lengthen and the evening comes, hush the busyness of this world and calm the troubled waters of my heart. My work is not yet done, but it is time for rest. I thank you, God, for all the good we did this day and for all that has given me joy. Forgive me for when I have strayed from your will and your way. Take from me my worries, my pains, my complaints and my fears. May evil no longer have power over me. Let your servant now depart with peace to join those I love to celebrate and bless with your humble kindness. Amen."

Now, if you aren't already, go home and rest.