Truth in Jesus

Life-Giving God,

Please make me alive so I can call on your name,
      for my mind is ignorant,
      my thoughts wandering,
      my affections worldly,
      my heart unbelieving,
   and only your Spirit can help my infirmities.
I approach you as Father and Friend,
   my portion forever,
   my exceeding joy,
   my strength of heart.
I believe in you as the God of nature,
   the ordainer of providence,
   the sender of Jesus my Savior.
My guilty fears discourage me from coming to you,
   but I praise you for the blessed news
      that Jesus reconciles you to me.
May the truth that is in him
   illuminate in me all that is dark,
   establish in me all that is wavering,
   comfort in me all that is wretched,
   accomplish in me all that is of your goodness,
   and glorify in me the name of Jesus.
I pass through a valley of tears
   but bless you for the opening gate of glory at its end.
Help me to realize as mine the better, heavenly country.
Prepare me for every part of my pilgrimage.
Uphold my steps by your Word.
Let no iniquity dominate me.
Teach me that Christ cannot be the way
      if I am the end,
   that he cannot be Redeemer
      if I am my own savior
   that there can be not true union with him
      while created things have my heart,
   that faith accepts him as Redeemer and Lord
      or not at all.

Truth in Jesus

Life-Giving God,

Enliven me to call on your name,
      for my mind is ignorant,
      my thoughts wandering,
      my affections worldly,
      my heart unbelieving,
   and only your Spirit can help my infirmities.
I approach you as Father and Friend,
   my portion forever,
   my exceeding joy,
   my strength of heart.
I believe in you as the God of nature,
   the ordainer of providence,
   the sender of Jesus my Savior.
My guilty fears discourage me from coming to you,
   but I praise you for the blessed news
      that Jesus reconciles you to me.
May the truth that is in him
   illuminate in me all that is dark,
   establish in me all that is wavering,
   comfort in me all that is wretched,
   accomplish in me all that is of your goodness,
   and glorify in me the name of Jesus.
I pass through a valley of tears
   but bless you for the opening gate of glory at its end.
Help me to realize as mine the better, heavenly country.
Prepare me for every part of my pilgrimage.
Uphold my steps by your Word.
Let no iniquity dominate me.
Teach me that Christ cannot be the way
      if I am the end,
   that he cannot be Redeemer
      if I am my own savior
   that there can be not true union with him
      while created things have my heart,
   that faith accepts him as Redeemer and Lord
      or not at all.

Calling

Heavenly Father,

You have placed me in the church
   which your Son purchased by his own blood.
Please give me even more grace so that I may live worthy of my calling.

I am a voyager across life's ocean;
Safe in heaven's ark, may I pass through a troubled world
   into the harbor of eternal rest.

I am a tree of the vineyard you have planted.
Grant me not to be barren, with worthless leaves and wild grapes;
Prune me of useless branches;
Water me with dews of blessing.
I am part of the Lamb's bride, the church.
Help me to be true, faithful, chaste, loving, pure, devoted;
Let no strong desire of mine play the whore with the world.
May I live high above a love of temporary things;
   being sanctified, cleansed, unblemished, hallowed by grace;
   your love my fullness,
   your glory my joy,
   your precepts my pathway,
   your cross my resting place.
My heart is not always a flame of adoring love,
But, resting in your Son's redemption,
I look forward to the days of heaven,
   where no weariness shall oppress,
   no iniquities chill,
   no mists of unbelief dim the eye,
   no zeal ever tires.
Father, these thoughts are the strength, support, and comfort of my soul.