Psalm 103

I read this during my devotions this morning, and it was a surreal experience - each verse brought with it a greater sense of joy. The psalm readily functions as a model of the kinds of things we can thank God for in our prayers. What struck me most was a paradox: God refrains from giving us anything that we deserve (the wages of our sin), yet gives us infinitely more as well (grace, even earthly blessings). It could easily translate into something metaphysical by the likes of Herbert or Donne. But since I'm no poet, it will have to remain as it is.

Thankful for days when the Holy Spirit is recognizably at work, ministering to our souls.

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.

The Lord performs righteous deeds
And judgments for all who are oppressed.
He made known His ways to Moses,
His acts to the sons of Israel.
The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.
He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.
For He Himself knows our frame;
He is mindful that we are but dust.

As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
When the wind has passed over it, it is no more,
And its place acknowledges it no longer.
But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children’s children,
To those who keep His covenant
And remember His precepts to do them.

The Lord has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.
Bless the Lord, you His angels,
Mighty in strength, who perform His word,
Obeying the voice of His word!
Bless the Lord, all you His hosts,
You who serve Him, doing His will.
Bless the Lord, all you works of His,
In all places of His dominion;
Bless the Lord, O my soul!

Keeping this one bookmarked

That moment when only a Puritan can explain how you feel dead-on. My latest has lasted all weekend. Love this.

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,
Thou has brought me to the valley of vision,
where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights;
hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold thy glory.
Let me learn by paradox
that the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to be high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive,
that the valley is the place of vision.

Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,
and the deeper the wells the brighter
thy stars shine;
Let me find thy light in my darkness,
Thy life in my death,
thy joy in my sorrow,
thy grace in my sin,
thy riches in my poverty
thy glory in my valley.

(The Valley of Vision - prayer by the same name)

"The deeper the wells the brighter thy stars shine"

"The valley is the place of vision"

"Let me find thy light in my darkness"

So true. Trials become blessings.

Goodbye, 2011

O Lord,
Length of days does not profit me
except the days are passed in Thy presence,
in Thy service, to Thy glory.
Give me a grace that precedes, follows, guides,
sustains, sanctifies, aids every hour,
that I may not be one moment apart from Thee,
but may rely on Thy Spirit
to supply every thought,
speak in every word,
direct every step,
prosper every work,
build up every mote of faith,
and give me a desire
to show forth Thy praise;
testify Thy love,
advance Thy kingdom.

I launch my bark on the unknown waters of this year,
with Thee, O Father as my harbour,
Thee, O Son, at my helm,
Thee O Holy Spirit, filling my sails.
Guide me to heaven with my loins girt,
my lamp burning,
my ear open to Thy calls,
my heart full of love,
my soul free.

Give me Thy grace to sanctify me,
Thy comforts to cheer,
Thy wisdom to teach,
Thy right hand to guide,
Thy counsel to instruct,
Thy law to judge,
Thy presence to stabilize.
May Thy fear by my awe,
Thy triumphs my joy.

Happy Thanksgiving

Thou Great and Only Potentate,
Thou hast made summer and winter,
day and night;
each of these revolutions serves our welfare
and is full of Thy care and kindness.
Thy bounty is seen
in the relations that train us,
the laws that defend us,
the homes that shelter us,
the food that builds us,
the raiment that comforts us,
the continuance of our health, members, senses, understanding, memory, affection, will.
But as the stars fade before the rising sun,
Thou hast eclipsed all these benefits
in the wisdom and grace that purposed
redemption by Jesus Thy son.
Blessed be Thy mercy that laid help on
one that is mighty and willing,
one that is able to save to the uttermost.
Make us deeply sensible of our need of His saving grace,
of the blood that cleanses,
of the rest He has promised.
And impute to us that righteousness which
justifies the guilty,
gives them a title to eternal life,
and possession of the Spirit.
May we love the freeness of salvation,
and joy in its holiness;
Give us faith to grasp Thy promises,
that are our hope,
provide for every exigency,
and prevent every evil;
Keep our hearts from straying after forbidden pleasures;
May Thy will bind all our wishes;
Let us live out of the world as to its spirit, maxim, manners,
but live in it as the sphere of our action and usefulness;
May we be alive to every call of duty,
accepting without question
Thy determination of our circumstances and our service. 

The Valley of Vision - "Bounty"

The Resurrection

O God of my Exodus,

Great was the joy of Israel’s sons,

         when Egypt died upon the shore,

         Far greater the joy

         when the Redeemer’s foe lay crushed

         in the dust.

Jesus strides forth as the victor,

   conqueror of death, hell, and all opposing

     might;

He bursts the bands of death,

   tramples the powers of darkness down,

   and lives for ever.

He, my gracious surety,

   apprehended for payment of my debt,

   comes forth from the prison house of the grave

   free, and triumphant over sin, Satan, and death.

Show me herein the proof that his vicarious offering

     is accepted,

   that the claims of justice are satisfied,

   that the devil’s sceptre is shivered,

   that his wrongful throne is levelled.

Give me the assurance that in Christ I died,

   in him I rose,

   in his life I live, in his victory I triumph,

   in his ascension I shall be glorified.

Adorable Redeemer,

   thou who wast lifted up upon a cross

   art ascended to highest heaven.

Thou, who as Man of sorrows

   wast crowned with thorns,

   art now as Lord of life wreathed with glory.

Once, no shame more deep than thine,

   no agony more bitter,

   no death more cruel.

Now, no exaltation more high,

   no life more glorious,

   no advocate more effective.

Thou art in the triumph car leading captive

   thine enemies behind thee.

What more could be done than thou hast done!

   Thy death is my life,

   thy resurrection my peace,

   thy ascension my hope,

   thy prayers my comfort.

(The Valley of Vision)

True Religion

If only mine was an attitude more like this -

Lord God Almighty,

I ask not to be enrolled amongst the earthly 

great and rich,

but to be numbered with the spiritually blessed.

Make it my present, supreme, persevering concern

to obtain those blessings which are

spiritual in their nature,

eternal in their continuance,

satisfying in their possession.

Preserve me from a false estimate of the whole 

or a part of my character;

May I pay regard to 

my principles as well as my conduct,

my motives as well as my actions.

Help me 

never to mistake the excitement of my passions

for the renewing of the Holy Spirit,

never to judge my religion by occasional 

impressions and impulses, but by my 

constant and prevailing disposition.

May my heart be right with thee, 

and my life as becometh the gospel.

May I maintain a supreme regard to another 

and better world,

and feel and confess myself a stranger 

and a pilgrim here.

Afford me all the direction, defence, support, 

and consolation my journey hence requires,

and grant me a mind stayed upon thee.

Give me large abundance of the supply of 

the Spirit of Jesus,

that I may be prepared for every duty,

love thee in all my mercies,

submit to thee in every trial,

trust thee when walking in darkness,

have peace in thee amidst life’s changes.

Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief 

and uncertainties.

(The Valley of Vision)

The Importance in Persevering in Prayer

Who ever knew an eminently holy man, who did not spend much of his time in prayer ? Did ever a man exhibit much of the spirit of prayer, who did not devote much time to his closet ? Whitefield says, ' Whole days and weeks have I spent prostrate on the ground, in silent or vocal prayer.' ' Fall upon your knees, and grow there,' is the language of another, who knew that whereof he affirmed. These, in spirit, are but specimens of a feature in the experience of eminent piety, which is absolutely uniform.

It has been said, that no great work in literature or in science was ever wrought by a man who did not love solitude. We may lay it down as an elemental principle of religion, that no large growth in holiness was ever gained, by one who did not take time to be often, and long, alone with God. This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. No otherwise can the great central idea of God enter into a man's life, and dwell there supreme.

(pp. 93-94 in The Still Hour, by Austin Phelps)

Advice on Prayer

1. We are directed to watch unto prayer. When you approach the mercy-seat, watch against a careless spirit. Do not allow your mind to be drawn away by anything, however good and important in itself, from the object before you. If the adversary can divert your mind, on the way to that consecrated place, he will be almost sure to drive you away from it without a blessing.

2. We are required to watch not only unto, but in, prayer. Satan is never more busy with Christians than when he sees them on their knees. He well knows the power of prayer; and this makes him tremble.

"Satan trembles when he sees
The weakest saint upon his knees."

You should, therefore, with the most untiring vigilance, watch in prayer against all wandering thoughts and distraction of mind. You will often experience, on such occasions, a sudden and vivid impression upon your mind, of something entirely foreign from what is before you; and this, we have reason to believe, is the temptation of Satan. If you are sufficiently upon your watch, you can banish it without diverting your thoughts or feelings from the subject of your prayer, and proceed as though nothing had happened. But, if the adversary succeeds in keeping these wild imaginations in view, so that you cannot proceed without distraction, turn and beseech God to give you help against his wiles. You have the promise, that if you resist the devil, he will flee from you. These remarks apply both to secret prayer and public worship.

(Harvey Newcomb, The Young Lady's Guide, pp. 129-130)

J.R. Miller on prayer

Those who learn to pray in this way, communing with Christ continually, are sure of rich blessing in their life. Prayer makes us stronger. It brings the divine life down into our heart. It shelters us amid temptation. It keeps us near the heart of Christ in time of sorrow or danger. It transforms us into the beauty of the Master. Prayer brings heaven close about us, into our heart. Prayer keeps us close to Christ; one who prays daily, and continues instant in prayer, will never drift far from Him. It is when we begin to omit prayer that we begin to omit Christ.

(Young People's Problems, pp. 76-77, emphasis mine)

Lord's Day Eve

GOD OF THE PASSING HOUR, 

Another week has gone and I have been 

preserved

in my going out,

in my coming in.

Thine has been the vigilance that has turned 

threatened evils aside;

Thine the supplies that have nourished me;

Thine the comforts that have indulged me;

Thine the relations and friends that have 

delighted me;

Thine the means of grace which have edified me;

Thine the Book, which, amidst all my enjoyments,

has told me that this is not my rest,

that in all successes one thing alone is needful,

to love my Saviour.

Nothing can equal the number of thy mercies

but my imperfections and sins.

These, O God, I will neither conceal nor palliate,

but confess with a broken heart.

In what condition would secret reviews 

of my life leave me

were it not for the assurance that with thee

there is plenteous redemption,

that thou art a forgiving God,

that thou mayest be feared!

While I hope for pardon through the blood 

of the cross,

I pray to be clothed with humility,

to be quickened in thy way,

to be more devoted to thee,

to keep the end of my life in view,

to be cured of the folly of delay and indecision,

to know how frail I am,

to number my days and apply my heart 

unto wisdom.

(The Valley of Vision, pp. 352-353)

Paradoxes

This is me.

O CHANGELESS GOD, 

Under the conviction of thy Spirit I learn that 

the more I do, the worse I am, 

the more I know, the less I know, 

the more holiness I have, the more sinful I am, 

the more I love, the more there is to love. 

O wretched man that I am! 

O Lord, 

I have a wild heart, 

and cannot stand before thee; 

I am like a bird before a man. 

How little I love thy truth and ways! 

I neglect prayer, 

by thinking I have prayed enough and earnestly, 

by knowing thou hast saved my soul. 

Of all hypocrites, grant that I may not be 

an evangelical hypocrite, 

who sins more safely because grace abounds, 

who tells his lusts that Christ’s blood 

cleanseth them, 

who reasons that God cannot cast him into hell, 

for he is saved, 

who loves evangelical preaching, churches, 

Christians, but lives unholily. 

My mind is a bucket without a bottom, 

with no spiritual understanding, 

no desire for the Lord’s Day, 

ever learning but never reaching the truth, 

always at the gospel-well but never holding water. 

My conscience is without conviction or contrition, 

with nothing to repent of. 

My will is without power of decision or resolution. 

My heart is without affection, and full of leaks. 

My memory has no retention, 

so I forget easily the lessons learned, 

and thy truths seep away. 

Give me a broken heart that yet carries home 

the water of grace.

(Taken from The Valley of Vision, pp. 128 & 129)

An Important Resolution

With everybody making New Year's resolutions, might I suggest one that you add to your list?

Why not commit to setting aside time each day - whether its in the morning, after you wake up, or at night, before you go to bed - to reading a chapter in the Bible and praying? It could possibly be one of the most important resolutions you ever make. I can guarantee you that if you were to do this every day, and do it sincerely, not only 2009 but the rest of your life will change. Here 's why:

1. You'll grow closer to God. Prayer and reading the Bible will lift your thoughts Heavenward. Your thoughts will turn towards God more frequently and more affectionately.
a. More frequently because you're daily spending time with Him. You think most about those you spend the most time with, and the same is true with God.
b. More affectionately because the end result of studying the Scriptures will be admiration of our Lord. Just try to read John 19 & 20 and be unmoved, or the second half of 1 Kings 19 and not awe-inspired.

2. Your attitude will change. A daily reminder of God will make you realize that not everything revolves around you. It becomes, if not easier, at least more gratifying to help others.

3. You'll go throughout your day differently. Many times, something you read in the Bible will particularly stand out and fix itself to your mind for the rest of the day. With Scripture always in the back of your mind, you're less likely to give into temptation, and more likely to "hunger and thirst for righteousness."

So why not give it a try?

How can a young man keep his way pure?

By living according to your word.

I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.

I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.

Praise be to you, O LORD;
teach me your decrees.

With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.

I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.

I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.

I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word.

Psalm 119:9-16