As everyone knows, we usually use our blog as a way of sharing photos and what's going on in our lives with those from afar. That's simply been it's greatest purpose. There are so many people that we are close to that do not share in our lives regularly or live close. Through that, hopefully you'll see we do love our Lord and our Master; however, today I wanted to share from my heart something that personally blessed and challenged me. This was from a book called A Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers. Such humble hearts are seen in these old Puritan prayers! Just wanted to share...
Thou
Great I AM,
I acknowledge and confess that all things come of Thee --
~ life, breath, happiness, advancement,
~ sight, touch, hearing,
~ goodness, truth, beauty --
~ all that makes existence amiable.
In the spiritual world also I am dependent entirely upon Thee.
Give me grace to know more of my need of grace;
Show me my sinfulness that I may willingly confess it;
Reveal to me my weakness that I may know my strength in Thee.
I thank Thee for any sign of penitence; give me more of it;
My sins are black and deep, and rise from a stony, proud, self-righteous heart;
Help me to confess them with mourning, regret, self-loathing,
with no pretense to merit or excuse;
I need healing,
Good Physician, here is scope for Thee,
come and manifest Thy power;
I need faith;
Thou who hast given it me, maintain, strengthen, increase it,
Centre it upon the Saviour's work,
~ upon the majesty of the Father,
~ upon the operations of the Spirit;
Work it in me now that I may never doubt Thee
~ as the truthful, mighty, faithful God.
Then I can bring my heart to Thee
full of love, gratitude, hope, joy.
May I lay at Thy feet these fruits grown in Thy garden,
~ love Thee with a passion that can never cool,
~ believe in Thee with a confidence that never staggers,
~ hope in Thee with an expectation that can never be dim,
~ delight in Thee with a rejoicing that cannot be stifled,
~ glorify Thee with the highest of my powers,
burning, blazing, glowing, radiating, as from Thy own glory.
I acknowledge and confess that all things come of Thee --
~ life, breath, happiness, advancement,
~ sight, touch, hearing,
~ goodness, truth, beauty --
~ all that makes existence amiable.
In the spiritual world also I am dependent entirely upon Thee.
Give me grace to know more of my need of grace;
Show me my sinfulness that I may willingly confess it;
Reveal to me my weakness that I may know my strength in Thee.
I thank Thee for any sign of penitence; give me more of it;
My sins are black and deep, and rise from a stony, proud, self-righteous heart;
Help me to confess them with mourning, regret, self-loathing,
with no pretense to merit or excuse;
I need healing,
Good Physician, here is scope for Thee,
come and manifest Thy power;
I need faith;
Thou who hast given it me, maintain, strengthen, increase it,
Centre it upon the Saviour's work,
~ upon the majesty of the Father,
~ upon the operations of the Spirit;
Work it in me now that I may never doubt Thee
~ as the truthful, mighty, faithful God.
Then I can bring my heart to Thee
full of love, gratitude, hope, joy.
May I lay at Thy feet these fruits grown in Thy garden,
~ love Thee with a passion that can never cool,
~ believe in Thee with a confidence that never staggers,
~ hope in Thee with an expectation that can never be dim,
~ delight in Thee with a rejoicing that cannot be stifled,
~ glorify Thee with the highest of my powers,
burning, blazing, glowing, radiating, as from Thy own glory.
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