Valley of Vision
I took this from the Valley of Vision which is a collection of prayers from the Puritans. If you do not have this book please go and buy it now as it will inspire you and also sharpen you from other brothers from another time. I thought I would share one called:
"Longings After God"
My dear Lord, I can but tell Thee that Thou knowest I long for nothing but Thyself, nothing but holiness, nothing but union with Thy will. Thou hast given me these desires, and thou alone canst give me the thing desired. My soul longs for communion with Thee, for mortification of indwelling corruption, especially spiritual pride. How precious it is to have a tender sense and clear apprehension of the mystery of godliness, of true holiness! What a blessedness to be like Thee as much as it is possible for a creature to be like its creator! Lord, give me more of Thy likeness; enlarge my soul to contain fullness of holiness; engage me to live more for Thee. Help me to be less pleased with my spiritual experiences, and when I feel at ease after sweet communings, teach me it is far too little I know and do. Blessed Lord, let me climb up near to Thee, and love, and long, and plead, and wrestle with Thee, and pant for deliverance from the body of sin, for my heart is wandering and lifeless, and my soul mourns to think it should ever lose sight of its beloved. Wrap my life in divine love, and keep me ever desiring Thee, always humble and resigned to Thy will, more fixed on Thyself, that I may be more fitted for doing and-suffering.
1 comments:
Christy and I have enjoyed this book as well. Although part of the beauty of these prayers may, to some, be due to an older style of the English language, I do not think that is the major component of why these prayers stir our hearts. There is a beauty behind the thought and care placed into these writing that we simply do not see very often today. Tony's Thanksgiving prayer, as a way of contrast, has a sense of true reverence for the Lord, and heartfelt communion with our Heavenly Father.
We all know we are commanded to pray without ceasing (1 Thes 5:17). What are the reasons we do not?
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