A Conversation About Rejoicing

Remember, O my soul,

It is your duty and privilege to rejoice in God;
He requires it of you for all his favors of grace.
Rejoice then in the Giver and his goodness,
Be happy in him, O my heart, and in nothing but God
   for whatever a person trusts in,
   from that he expects happiness.

He who is the basis of your faith
   should be the substance of your joy.
From where, then, does heaviness and dejection come
   when joy is planted in you,
      promised to you by the Father,
      granted to you by the Son,
      formed in you by the Holy Spirit,
      made yours by grace,
      given to you as your birthright by believing?

Are you seeking to rejoice in yourself
   from an evil motive of pride and self-reputation?
You have nothing of your own but sin,
   nothing to move God to be gracious
   or to cause his grace towards you to continue.
If you forget this you will lose your joy.
Are you grieving under the weight of indwelling sin?
Let godly sorrow work repentence,
   as the true spirit which the Lord blesses,
   and which creates fullest joy;
Sorrow for self opens rejoicing in God,
Self-loathing draws down divine delights.
Have you sought joys in some comfort of this world?
Look not below God for happiness;
   fall not asleep in Delilah's lap.
Let God be all in all to you
   and joy in the fountain that is always full.

After Prayer

O God of grace,

I mourn over my cold, lifeless, heartless prayers;
   their poverty adds sin to sin.
If my hope were in them I would be undone,
But the worth of Jesus perfumes my feeble breathings, and wins their acceptance.
Deepen my heart of repentence,
Confirm my faith in the blood that washes from all sin.
May I walk lovingly with my great Redeemer.
Flood my soul with true repentence
   that my heart may be broken for sin and unto sin.
Let me be as slow to give my sin a pass
   as you are ready to forgive me.
Gazing on the glories of your grace
   may I be cast into the lowest depths of shame,
   and walk with downcast head
   now that your anger towards me has been removed.
O my great High Priest,
   pour down upon me streams of needed grace,
   bless me in all my undertakings,
      in every thought of my mind,
      every word of my lips,
      every step of my feet,
      every deed of my hands.
You lived to bless,
   died to bless,
   rose to bless,
   ascended to bless,
   took your throne to bless,
   and now you reign to bless.
O give sincerity to my desires,
   earnestness to my supplications,
   and fervor to my love.