"Living for Jesus"

Sometimes, I am too weak to pray, too distracted to concentrate on God's Word, lost in my own thoughts and the cares and conversations of the day. In those times, often the only thing that can reorient my heart, by God's grace and His Spirit, is The Valley of Vision. When I graduated from high school, a family gave me this little volume of Puritan prayers and, while initially it sat in leather-bound, gilded contentment gathering dust on the bookshelf, it eventually made it into rotation and has been a source of great comfort and wisdom throughout the years.

A prayer for today, Living for Jesus:

"O Saviour of Sinners,

Thy name is excellent,

thy glory high, thy compassions unfailing,

thy condescension wonderful,

thy mercy tender.

I bless thee for the discoveries, invitations, promises of teh gospel

for in them is pardon for rebels,

liberty for captives,

health fort he sick,

salvation for the lost.

I come to thee in thy beloved name of Jesus;

reimpress they image upon my soul;

Raise me above the smiles and frowns of the world,

regarding it as a light thing to be judged by men;

May thy approbation be my only aim,

thy Word my one rule.

Make me to abhor that which grieves thy Holy Spirit,

to suspect consolations of a worldly nature,

to shun a careless way of life,

to reprove evil, to instruct with meekness those who oppose me,

to be gentle and patient towards all men,

to be not only a professor but an example of the gospel,

displaying in every relation, office, and condition

its excellency, loveliness and advantages.

How little have I illustrated my principles and improved my privileges!

How often have I injured and not recommended my Redeemer!

How few are those blessed through me!

In many things have I offended, in all come short of thy glory;

Pardon my iniquity, for it is great."

I love how the Puritans are able to confess so freely their own sin and inadequacies, knowing the beauty and completeness of their salvation. Indeed, our sin is great, but Jesus is greater still.