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.