LORD JESUS,
Grant me the favour of being led by thee,
under the directions of thy providence
and thy Word.
Grant me thy blessings with bitter things,
to brighten and quicken me,
not to depress and make me lifeless;
Grant me, like Gideon of old, way-tokens,
by removing things that discourage me;
Grant me succour beneath the shadow
of thy sympathy when I am tempted.
Accept my unceasing thanks
that I am not cast off from thy hand
as a darkened star or a rudderless vessel.
Suffer not my life to extend
beyond my usefulness;
Cast me not under the feet of
pride, injustice, riches, worldly greatness,
selfish oppression of men;
Help me to wait patiently, silently upon thee,
not to be enraged or speak unadvisedly.
Let thy mercy follow me while I live,
and give me aid to resign myself to thy will.
Take my heart and hold it in thy hand;
write upon it reverence to thyself with an
inscription that time and eternity cannot erase.
To thy grace and the care of thy covenant
I commit myself, in sickness, and in health,
for thou hast overcome the world,
fulfilled the law,
finished justifying righteousness,
swallowed up death in victory,
and taken all power everywhere.
Mark this covenant with thine own blood
in the court of forgiving mercy;
Attach unto it thy name in which I believe,
for it is sealed by my unworthy mortal hand.
Source: The Valley of Vision, a collection of Puritan Prayers
The BELOVED 