Heavenly Father,
Thou hast placed me in the church
which Thy Son purchased by His own blood.
Add grace to grace that I may live worthy
of my vocation.
I am a voyager across life’s ocean;
Safe in heaven’s ark, may I pass through
a troubled world
into the harbour of eternal rest.
I am a tree of the vineyard Thou hast planted.
Grant me not to be barren, with worthless
leaves and wild grapes;
Prune me of useless branches;
Water me with dews of blessing.
I am part of the Lamb’s bride, the church.
Help me to be true, faithful, chaste, loving,
pure, devoted;
Let no strong affection wantonly dally
with the world.
May I live high above a love of things temporal,
sanctified, cleansed, unblemished, hallowed
by grace,
Thy love my fullness,
Thy glory my joy,
Thy precepts my pathway,
Thy cross my resting place.
My heart is not always a flame of adoring love,
But, resting in Thy Son’s redemption,
I look forward to the days of heaven,
where no langour shall oppress,
no iniquities chill,
no mists of unbelief dim the eye,
no zeal ever tires.
Father, these thoughts are the stay, prop, and comfort of my soul.
(Taken from ‘The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers,’ edited by Arthur Bennett)
Why Puritan Prayers? Here’s why.
