Some Sweet Prayers

Every once in awhile, I break out this little black book full of treasures. It's called The Valley of Vision. Full of Puritan prayers, every time I open it, it blesses and challenges my heart. Tonight, I read many, but two in particular stuck out to me. I'd like to share them with you. (I added the bold).

Resting on God

O God Most High, Most Glorious,

The thought of thine infinite serenity cheers me,
For I am toiling and moiling, troubled and distressed,
but thou art for ever at perfect peace.

Thy designs cause thee no fear or care of unfulfilment,
they stand fast as the eternal hills.
Thy power knows no bond,
thy goodness no stint.

Thou bringest order out of confusion,
and my defeats are thy victories:
The Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

I come to thee as a sinner with cares and sorrows,
to leave every concern entirely to thee,
every sin calling for Christ's precious blood;
Revive deep spirituality in my heart;
Let me live near to the great Shepherd,
hear his voice, know its tones, follow its calls.

Keep me from deception by causing me to abide in the truth,
from harm by helping me to walk in the power of the Spirit.

Give me intenser faith in the eternal verities,
burning into me by experience the things I know;
Let me never be ashamed of the truth of the gospel,
that I may bear its reproach,
vindicate it,
see Jesus as its essence,
know in it the power of the Spirit.

Lord, help me, for I am often lukewarm and chill;
unbelief mars my confidence, 
sin makes me forget thee.

Let the weeds that grow in my soul be cut at their roots;
Grant me to know that I truly live only when I live to thee,
that all else is trifling.

Thy presence alone can make me holy, devout, strong and happy.
Abide in me, gracious God.


God All-Sufficient

O Lord of Grace,

The world is before me this day,
and I am weak and fearful,
but I look to thee for strength;
If I venture forth alone I stumble and fall,
but on the Beloved's arms I am firm
as the eternal hills;
If left to the treachery of my heart
I shall shame thy Name,
but if enlightened, guided, upheld by thy Spirit,
I shall bring thee glory.

Be thou my arm to support,
           my strength to stand,
           my light to see,
           my feet to run,
           my shield to protect,
           my sword to repel,
           my sun to warm.

To enrich me will not diminish thy fullness;
All thy lovingkindness is in thy Son,
I bring him to thee in the arms of faith,
I urge his saving Name as the One who died for me.
I plead his blood to pay my debts of wrong.

Accept his worthiness for my unworthiness,
           his sinlessness for my transgressions,
           his purity for my uncleanness,
           his sincerity for my guile,
           his truth for my deceits,
           his meekness for my pride,
           his constancy for my backslidings,
           his love for my enmity,
           his fullness for my emptiness,
           his faithfulness for my treachery,
           his obedience for my lawlessness,
           his glory for my shame,
           his devotedness for my waywardness,
           his holy life for my unchaste ways,
           his righteousness for my dead works,
           his death for my life.


God, I'm thankful for my brothers in the faith who wrote down their prayers to you because even 400 years later, I can echo their same words and relate to them where they were at. Thank you for never changing. Thank you for Christ who is my righteousness and who stands before you as my Mediator. Thank you, Jesus, for being everything that I cannot be. Although I am weak and fearful and unfaithful and unbelieving, you are my strength, peace, faithfulness, and belief. Please make my defeats your victories. Bring order out of my confusion. And teach me to believe. For the glory of your name, Jesus, I pray, AMEN!