O God, most high, most glorious, the thought of Thine infinite serenity cheers me, for I am toiling and moiling, troubled and distressed, but Thou art for ever at perfect peace. Thy designs cause thee no fear or care of unfulfilment, they stand fast as the eternal hills. Thy power knows no bond, Thy goodness no stint. Thou bringest order out of confusion, and my defeats are Thy victories: The Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

I come to Thee as a sinner with cares and sorrows, to leave every concern entirely to Thee, every sin calling for Christ’s precious blood; revive deep spirituality in my heart; let me live near to the great Shepherd, hear His voice, know its tones, follow its calls. Keep me from deception by causing me to abide in the truth, from harm by helping me to walk in the power of the Spirit. Give me intenser faith in the eternal verities, burning into me by experience the things I know; Let me never be ashamed of the truth of the gospel, that I may bear its reproach, vindicate it, see Jesus as its essence, know in it the power of the Spirit.

Lord, help me, for I am often lukewarm and chill; unbelief mars my confidence, sin makes me forget Thee. Let the weeds that grow in my soul be cut at their roots; grant me to know that I truly live only when I live to Thee, that all else is trifling. Thy presence alone can make me holy, devout, strong and happy. Abide in me, gracious God.

 

this is a prayer from ‘the valley of vision,’ a book of puritan prayers. and it’s awesome.

so yesterday was good. i think it’s how days are meant to be. it started with a john piper sermon, and studying colossians. then lauren and i went to starbucks. we spent over an hour reading 2 timothy, talking out what the scriputre was saying. the whole rest of the day, while i was looking for jobs (that was unsuccessful), was spent reading scripture, talking about kingdom things. i went to spend time with my lifegroup. we ate together, and beck talked about the wrath of God. of our total depravity, and how we deserve His wrath. we are filthy, yet when we, the redeemed, stand before the Father, Jesus is there, taking the filth away. my mind was set on His kingdom all day long. i love it. HE IS LIFE. why would i think or talk about anything that isn’t furthering the kingdom.

we talked in lifegroup of God’s active and passive wrath. his passive wrath being when he gives someone over to their sin (romans 1:24).  how much more thankful should i be when He disciplines me, because He has not given me over to my sin. He has not given up on me. the opposite has happened… He is continuing to forgive me and transform me to be more like Himself. Ahhh beauty.

Anyways, all this to say – God is good. i’m so thankful there are days when He reminds me of how much i need Him. i need His word. and when i am in His word, my mind is set on things of above. and it’s beautiful.

[how i long to be broken. how i long to be near you. how my heart skips beats when your love accepts me as i am.][the glorious unseen]