A little food for weekend thought--
From The Valley of Vision (a set of Puritan prayers)
Thou incomprehensible, but Prayer-Hearing God,
Known, but beyond knowledge,
revealed, but unrevealed,
my wants and welfare draw me to Thee,
for Thou hast never said, 'Seek ye Me in vain.'
To Thee I come in my difficulties, necessities, distresses;
possess me with Thyself,
with a spirit of grace and supplication,
with a prayerful attitude of mind,
with access into warmth of fellowship,
so that in the ordinary concerns of life
my thoughts and habits may rise to Thee,
and in habitual devotion I may find a resource
that will soothe my sorrows,
sanctify my successes,
and qualify me in all ways for dealings with my fellow men.
I bless Thee that Thou hast made me capable
of knowing Thee, the author of all being,
of resembling Thee, the perfection of all excellency,
of enjoying Thee, the source of all happiness.
O God, attend me in every part of my arduous and trying pilgrimage;
I need the same counsel, defense, comfort
I found at my beginning.
Let my religion be more obvious to my conscience,
more perceptible to those around.
While Jesus is representing me in heaven,
may I reflect Him on earth,
While He pleads my cause, may I show forth His praise.
Continue the gentleness of Thy goodness towards me,
And whether I wake or sleep, let Thy presence go with me,
Thy blessing attend me.
Thou hast led me on and I have found Thy promises true,
I have been sorrowful, but Thou hast been my help,
fearful, but Thou hast delivered me,
despairing, but Thou hast lifted me up.
Thy vows are ever upon me,
And I praise Thee, O God.
Yes, Lord Jesus, yes. Might this be as true of us today as it was of the Puritans hundreds of years ago. How grateful we are that today--at this very moment--our Savior is interceding for us at the throne of all mercy and grace. (Rom.8:34 and Heb.4:16). While He prays for us in heaven, might we "reflect Him on earth. While He pleads my cause, may I show forth His praise."
What confidence that gives us. Even when the way ahead is dark and uncertain, even when we've failed, even when we're discouraged or frightened, even when we're worn, weary, and weak...
Jesus is praying in heaven...so we can be praising on earth.
Our job isn't to figure it all out...or work it all out...or find a way out...our job is simply to know and trust that our Redeemer is praying in heaven, so we, His redeemed, will be praising by faith on earth. And praise is not a choice of our feelings...it's a choice of our faith. It's choosing to praise based upon Who our God is, all He has done, and what He is doing.
Father, even when we don't feel like it, teach us, help us, to praise Your mighty and miracle-working Name. For You are infinitely, gloriously worthy. Thank You for always living, 24-7, to intercede for us (Heb.7:25). Might we live to praise Your Name. To God be the glory.
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