Over the past several months, I’ve had difficulty with my prayer time.  It’s not something I’ve been too keen on sharing with many, but now that God has broken so many chains in my life during recent days, I can speak without shame.

This morning, I was using The Valley of Vision as an aide during my prayer time and the entry entitled “The Deeps” was a great help to me and God spoke to me (loudly) through it.  I wanted to share parts of it here.

Give me a deeper repentance, a horror of sin, a dread of its approach;
Help me chastely to flee it, and jealously to resolve that my heart shall be thine alone.

Give me more sweetness in the Word, deeper holiness in speech, thought, action, and let me not seek moral virtue apart from thee.

I have no Master but thee … no peace but that thou bestowest.
I am nothing but that thou makest me,
I have nothing but that I receive from thee,
I can be nothing but that grace adorns me.

Quarry me deep, dear Lord,
and then fill me to overflowing
with living water.

(emphasis mine)

Amen and amen.

Why can’t I just say “yes” to you and have you say “okay” to me?

Why can’t you just give me my cross and make me follow thee?

Why is it that obedience has such a role to play?

Why can’t it be easier to follow you today?

Flesh vs. Spirit: Round, what, 681?

I know the spirit to be the favorite and assume it’s already won,

When I decided to loathe the skin I wear and run hard after you.

Yet, my flesh flares up like fire on grease and now it’s Round 682.

One area of fatherhood that I have failed at (if I’m being honest) is praying for my daughter. Today, the Lord brought this to me — a few things and accompanying verses to pray for your child(ren). I will be putting these on an index card and carrying it with me as a reminder to pray for my daughter.

That Jesus will call them and no one will hinder them from coming.
Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away. (Matthew 19:13-15)

That they will respond in faith to Jesus’ faithful, persistent call.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

That they will experience sanctification through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit and will increasingly desire to fulfill the greatest commandments.
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39)

That they will not be unequally yoked in intimate relationships, especially marriage.
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14)

That their thoughts will be pure.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8)

That their hearts will be stirred to give generously to the Lord’s work.
All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the Lord had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the Lord. (Exodus 35:29)

That when the time is right, they will GO!
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

(HT: Desiring God Blog)

A while back, I purchased a copy of The Valley of Vision. It arrived while I was in the hospital, but since I’ve been home, I’ve enjoyed the refreshing spirit that this book of puritan-era prayers. I’ve been moved by many of them as I’ve randomly read through them. However, none have moved me the way this one has. I share it here with the hopes that the Holy Spirit uses it in your own life.

O God of Grace,

Thou hast imputed my sin to my substitute,
and hast imputed his righteousness to my soul,
clothing me with a bridegroom’s robe,
decking me with jewels of holiness.

But in my Christian walk I am still in rags;
my best prayers are stained with sin;
my penitential tears are so much impurity;
my confessions of wrong are so many aggravations of sin;
my receiving the Spirit is tinctured with selfishness.

I need to repent of my repentance;
I need my tears to be washed;
I have no robe to bring to cover my sins,
no loom to weave my own righteousness;

I am always standing clothed in filthy garments,
and by grace am always receiving change of raiment,
for thou dost always justify the ungodly;

I am always going into the far country,
and always returning home as a prodigal,
always saying, Father, forgive me,
and thou art always bringing forth
the best robe.

Every morning let me wear it,
every evening return in it,
go out to the day’s work in it,
be married in it,
be wound in death in it,
stand before the great white throne in it,
enter heaven in it shining as the sun.

Grant me never to lose sight of
the exceeding sinfulness of sin,
the exceeding righteousness of salvation,
the exceeding glory of Christ,
the exceeding beauty of holiness,
the exceeding wonder of grace.

Amen and amen.