An Evening Prayer in the Spirit of Simeon

Lord, now let Your servant go in peace.

Simeon prayed those words
with the baby Jesus in his arms.
He had waited years for that moment.
When it came, he was ready to let go.
He had seen what he was waiting for.

Christians still sing his song at evening prayer,
and tonight I make it mine.
I don't have everything I hoped for.
But I have seen Your goodness today.
In a kind word. In a meal. In a moment of quiet.
In the faces of people I love.
My eyes have seen Your salvation,
even in small things.

So I let this day go in peace.
And one day, when You call me home,
let me go in peace then too,
held as gently as Simeon held that child.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

When to Pray This

Pray this at nightfall, the hour when Christians have long sung Simeon's song at evening prayer. It is a gentle one for a day with much left undone, as a way to notice the good you have seen and let the rest go.

A Verse to Hold On To

"Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation." — Luke 2:29–30 (KJV)