My wonderful friend Sandea gave me a book of Puritan Prayers for my birthday that I am treasuring. The one from today is so beautiful I just have to share it with all of you, because it expresses the underpinning reality of life with the Lord.
Almighty God,
I am loved with everlasting love,
clothed in eternal righteousness,
my peace flowing like a river,
my comforts many and large,
my joy and triumph unutterable,
my soul lively with a knowledge of salvation,
my sense of justification unclouded.
I have scarce anything to pray for;
Jesus smiles upon my soul as a ray of heaven
and my supplications are swallowed up in praise.
How sweet is the glorious doctrine of election when based upon thy Word
and wrought inwardly within the soul!
I bless the that thou wilt keep the sinner thou hast loved,
and hast engaged that he will not forsake thee,
else I would never get to heaven.
I wrong the work of grace in my heart
if I deny my new nature and eternal life.
If Jesus were not my righteousness and redemption,
I would sink into nethermost hell
by my misdoings, shortcomings, unbelief, unlove;
If jesus were not by the power of his Spirit my sanctification,
there is no sin I should not commit.
O when shall I have his mind!
when shall I be conformed to his image?
All the good things of life are less than nothing when compared to his love,
and with one glimpse of thy electing favor.
All the treasures of a million worlds could not make me richer, happier, more contented,
for his unsearchable riches are mine.
One moment of communion with him,
one view of his grace,
is ineffable, inestimable.
But O God, I could not long after thy presence
if I did not know the sweetness of it;
and such I could not know except by thy Spirit
in my heart, nor love thee at all unless thou didst
elect me
call me
adopt me
save me.
I bless thee for the covenant of grace.
May you be blessed by this prayer as I was this morning!
