Puritan gratitude

     Food for grateful thoughts this weekend from The Valley of Vision (a very old collection of Puritan prayers and devotions):

Thou Great Three-One,
Author of all blessings I enjoy,
   of all I hope for,
Thou hast taught me
   that neither the experience of present evils,
   nor the remembrances of former sins,
   nor the remonstrances of friends,
   will or can affect a sinner's heart,
   except Thou vouchsafe to reveal Thy grace
   and quicken the dead in sin
   by the effectual working of Thy Spirit's power.
Thou hast shown me
   that the sensible effusions of divine love
     in the soul are superior to and distinct from bodily health,
   and that oft-times spiritual comforts are
     at their highest when physical well-being is at its lowest.
Thou hast given me the ordinance of song
   as a means of grace;
Fit me to bear my part in that music ever new,
   which elect angels and saints made perfect
   now sing before Thy throne and before the Lamb.
I bless Thee for tempering every distress with joy;
   too much of the former might weigh me down,
   too much of the latter might puff me up;
Thou art wise to give me a taste of both.
I love Thee
   for giving me clusters of grapes
     in the wilderness
   and drops of heavenly wine
     that set me longing to have my fill.
Apart from Thee I quickly die,
   bereft of Thee I quickly starve,
   far from Thee I thirst and droop;
But Thou art all I need.
   Let me continually grasp the promise,
   'I will never leave thee or forsake thee.'

     Thank You, Lord, "author of all blessings" for the gift of  Your grace and love and for "tempering every distress with joy."  There truly is no pit so deep that You are not deeper still... and You are with us in that pit, tempering our sorrow with Your supernatural joy.  And thank You, Lord, that no matter what we are going through, no matter where we are, no matter what we have done, You have promised never ever to leave us or forsake us. Help us to live this day overflowing with gratitude in Your unshakable promises.  To God be the glory.