Why a site about prayer?

The purpose of this site is to encourage us to each go deeper in our prayer life. One way that we do that is by praying together. Another way we do that is by praying individually yet collectively on the same prayer themes. Our hope is that as we share prayers and reflect on them and pray over them at the same time in our individual lives, the Holy Spirit will speak to each of us and allow us to encourage and edify one another in prayer.

Sunday, November 6, 2016

The Infinite and the Finite

THOU GREAT I AM,

Fill my mind with elevation and grandeur at
      the thought of a Being
  with whom one day is as a thousand years,
  and a thousand years as one day,
A mighty God, who, amidst the lapse of worlds,
  and the revolutions of empires,
  feels no variableness,
  but is glorious in immortality.
May I rejoice that, while men die, the Lord lives;
  that, while all creatures are broken reeds,
    empty cisterns,
    fading flowers,
    withering grass,
  he is the Rock of Ages, the Fountain
    of living waters.
Turn my heart from vanity,
  from dissatisfactions,
  from uncertainties of the present state,
  to an eternal interest in Christ.
Let me remember that life is short and
    unforeseen,
  and is only an opportunity for usefulness;
Give me a holy avarice to redeem the time,
  to awake at every call to charity and piety,
  so that I may feed the hungry,
    clothe the naked,
    instruct the ignorant,
    reclaim the vicious,
    forgive the offender,
    diffuse the gospel,
    show neighbourly love to all.
Let me live a life of self-distrust,
  dependence on thyself,
  mortification,
  crucifixion,
  prayer.


Pgs 190-191, from "The Valley of Vision", a collection of Puritan prayers and devotionals compiled and edited by Arthur Bennett

8 comments:

  1. Turn my heart from uncertainties of the present state. Let me live a life of trust in you, a life of prayer. Let me live a cruciform life. Amen.

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  2. Mighty God, Rock of Ages, Fountain of living water. Jesus, be my eternal interest! Redeemer. Amen

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  3. A mighty God, who, amidst the lapse of worlds, and the revolutions of empires, feels no variableness, but is glorious in immortality.
    Father God, my heart grieves on this Election Day. Help me, guide me. I know you are sovereign over this nation. Tell me clearly what to do. I want to be cleansed of my ideas, imaginations, prejudices, confusions. Cleanse me and I will be clean. Amen

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    Replies
    1. Father, I want to agree with you, show me your will for me this day. Amen

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  4. You live eternal, Lord, the Rock of Ages, a mighty God feels no variableness and who reigns in high. Let me see that life is short and unforeseen. Lead me into living cruciform. For you alone. You are worthy. I am Yours and You are mine and all I have is Yours and somehow, in the great paradox of grace, all that You have is mine. Thank you Jesus for making all this new and possible.

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  5. Turn my heart from vanity, from dissatisfactions, from uncertainties of the present state, to an eternal interest in Christ. Let me remember that life is short and unforeseen...give me a holy avarice to redeem the time...let me live a life of self-distrust, dependence on thyself, mortification, crucifixion, prayer. Help me to be crucified daily, to embrace the cruciform life, the way of brokenness that you model, Lord Jesus. Might I marvel at your eternal being and be so caught up in your glory that I completely lose myself today. Amen.

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  6. Lord, be thou my vision. When I look at myself I become sick. When I look at you I am made well. Forgive me once again all my trespasses and train my eyes on you. I want you to be my eternal interest but am unable to sustain my focus on you. Help me. You are God. Amen

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  7. Amen to Karen's last prayer. Jesus, I am sick with self focus. It's constant and pervasive, it's all I know. Jesus, you are able to crucify it. I see it, I want to change. I am weak and full of sin, but you are strong and our and holy. You are able and you are all. I will see your glory. I still myself and make space for you in the messy, dirty home of my heart, this heart you created, a place where you love to be. Come be with me and help me clean it up. Jesus, thank you, thank you. Be thou my vision, my only love.

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