Puritan Prayer

I have been reading a book of Puritan Prayers today – I just want to finish out this evening with one that grips my heart:

Great God,

In public and private, in sanctuary and home,

may my life be steeped in prayer,

Filled with the spirit of grace and supplication,

each prayer perfumed with the incense of atoning blood.

Help me, defend me, until from praying ground

I pass to the realm of unceasing praise.

Urged by my need, invited by thy promise,

Called by the Spirit, I enter thy presence,

Worshipping thee with godly fear,

Awed by thy majesty, greatness, glory,

But encouraged by thy love.

I bless thee that great sin draws out great grace,

That, although the least sin deserves infinite punishment

Because done against an infinite God,

Yet there is mercy for me,

For where guilt is most terrible,

There thy mercy in Christ is most free and deep.

Bless me by revealing to me more of his saving merits,

By causing thy goodness to pass before me,

By speaking peace into my contrite heart;

Strengthen me to give thee no rest until Christ

Shall reign supreme within me,

In every thought, word, and deed,

In a faith that purifies the heart,

Overcomes the world

Works by love, fastens me to thee,

And ever clings to the cross

From: "The Valley of Vision - A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions"

Edited by Arthur Bennett

The Banner of Truth Trust 1975

'Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus

The middle verse of the entire Bible:

It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in man.
Ps. 118:8

Louisa M.R. Stead (1850-1917) felt the call to the mission field at an early age. That dream was hindered due to her frail health. At age 25 she married and a year later gave birth to a beautiful baby girl; Lily. Several years after Lily's birth, Stead's young husband suddenly died while trying to save a drowning child. Stead was a poor woman and she was hardly able to provide for her daughter. One day when it seemed that all of their resources were gone, she found a gift of food and money left on her doorstep. It was on that day that she sat and wrote these words: "'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus…"

Years later, Stead would remarry. She would also realize her dream to be a missionary. Her daughter Lily would continue that dream by also entering the mission field. Stead's life was a testimony to the faithfulness of God.

The words of Stead's poem were put to music by famed musician William J. Kirkpatrick, and subsequently published in several hymnals. The tragedy that prompted the lyrics of Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus has resulted in bringing comfort to many souls, for close to 130 years.

Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus

Refrain:

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!

How I've proved Him o'er and o'er

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!

O for grace to trust Him more!

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His word;

Just to rest upon His promise,

And to know, 'Thus says the Lord!'

Refrain

O how sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just to trust His cleansing blood;

And in simple faith to plunge me

'Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Refrain

Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just from sin and self to cease;

Just from Jesus simply taking

Life and rest, and joy and peace.

Refrain

I'm so glad I learned to trust Thee,

Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;

And I know that Thou art with me,

Wilt be with me to the end.

Refrain

Proverbs 3:5-12 (The Message)

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;

don’t try to figure out everything on your own.

Listen for God’s voice in everything you do,

everywhere you go;

he’s the one who will keep you on track.

Don’t assume that you know it all.

Run to God! Run from evil!

Your body will glow with health,

your very bones will vibrate with life!

Honor God with everything you own;

give him the first and the best.


Your barns will burst,

your wine vats will brim over.

But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline;

don’t sulk under his loving correction.

It’s the child he loves that God corrects;

a father’s delight is behind all this.

Give Thanks...

Last Thanksgiving I posted some verses from the New Testament on giving thanks. This year I am looking at these great verses from the Old Testament:

5 Places to Give Thanks:

• Give thanks among the Gentiles – or those who don’t know Him (2Sam. 22:50; Ps. 18:49)

• Give thanks and make His deeds known among all peoples (1Chron. 16:8; Ps. 105:1)

• Give thanks in the gates of the camp of the Lord (2Chron. 31:2)

• Give thanks among many people in the great assembly (Ps. 35:18)

• Give thanks as you make your way to the place of festivity and worship (Ps. 122:4)

7 Reasons to be Thankful Today:

• Give thanks because He is good and His mercy endures forever (1Chron. 16:34; Ps. 106:1; Ps. 107:1 …and entire Psalm; Ps. 118; Ps. 136)

• Give thanks because you remember His holy name (Ps. 30:4; Ps. 97:12)

• Give thanks because His name is near (Ps. 75:1)

• Give thanks because it is good to do it (Ps. 92:1)

• Give thanks because of His goodness and wonderful works (Ps. 107)

• Give thanks because He calls us to worship at midnight (Ps. 119:62)

• Give thanks because He has made us righteous and call us to dwell in His presence (Ps. 140:13)

Today - I feel like this young man looks

Thank you Jesus for Your great kindness to me!

You have not given me what I deserve, but have lavished Your love on me!

Give thanks to the Lord forever!

(Ps. 30:12; Ps. 79:13)

Lately, the Lord has been showing off his great faithfulness 

and grace in my life.

I just can't stop worshiping Him,

…so I have to conclude this posting with this wonderful verse from Thessalonians:

1 Thess. 5:16-18 - Living Bible

Always be joyful.

Always keep on praying.

No matter what happens, always be thankful,
for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

The Best Coin Ever Spent

I just love this. I know a bunch of you might have already seen it, but it is worth another look. This young girl gave some coins to a street musician…look at what happens! What a delightful and heartwarming story for Thanksgiving Eve:

The Lord Surrounds Us...

It seems to me that the Lord surrounds us with these things:

-The favor of the Lord surrounds His people and makes a shield of protection completely around their lives: Ps. 5:12 For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield.

-There are songs of deliverance (plural) that surround every Believer - these songs dig us out of trouble, keep us on track and make a place for us to hide - what a God!! Have you ever stopped to listen to God's songs over you? Ps. 32:7 You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah

- The mercy of the Lord surrounds all who trust in Him - Ps. 32:10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.

- The Lord surrounds Jerusalem and all of His people - so much so that He is like a mighty mountain in His strength and protection. Let it be noted that His surrounding is forever. It is not going away - just as the mountains are secure and stable - Ps. 125:2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the Lord surrounds His people From this time forth and forever.

- The Lord has made sure that we are surrounded by the righteous - those who will stand with us to help and encourage us in faith - Ps. 143:7 Bring my soul out of prison, That I may praise Your name; The righteous shall surround me, For You shall deal bountifully with me.”

- There are countless Believers who have gone to glory ahead of us - these surround us as a testimony to God unfailing love and enormous grace - Heb. 12:1 [ The Race of Faith ] Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

The Lord is surrounded by these two things:

- He is surrounded by His faithfulness - Ps. 89:8 O Lord God of hosts, Who is mighty like You, O Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds You

- He is surrounded by clouds and darkness - Ps. 89:8 Clouds and darkness surround Him; Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.