Friday, December 26, 2008

Contentment


This prayer from The Valley of Vision seemed appropriate for the day after Christmas. It also fits nicely with what I've been reading in Sam Storms great work "Pleasures Evermore" that my desire for Christ Himself would overshadow and overcome the lust and pride and sin that dwells within my sinful heart.



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Daily Devotion
Friday, 26, December 2008



Contentment

Heavenly Father,

If I should suffer need, and go unclothed,

and be in poverty,

make my heart prize thy love,

know it, be constrained by it,

though I be denied all blessings.

It is thy mercy to afflict and try me with wants,

for by these trials I see my sins,

and desire severance from them.

Let me willingly accept misery, sorrows,

temptations,

if I can thereby feel sin as the greatest evil,

and be delivered from it with gratitude to thee,

acknowledging this as the highest testimony

of thy love.

When thy Son, Jesus, came into my soul

instead of sin, he became more dear to me

than sin had formerly been;

his kindly rule replaced sin’s tyranny.

Teach me to believe that if ever I would have any sin

subdued

I must not only labour to overcome it,

but must invite Christ to abide in the place of it,

and he must become to me more than

vile lust had been;

that his sweetness, power, life may be there.

Thus I must seek a grace from him contrary to sin,

but must not claim it apart from himself.

When I am afraid of evils to come,

comfort me by showing me

that in myself I am a dying, condemned wretch,

but in Christ I am reconciled and live;

that in my self I find insufficiency and no rest,

but in Christ there is satisfaction and peace;

that in myself I am feeble and unable to do good,

but in Christ I have ability to do all things.

Though now I have his graces in part,

I shall shortly have them perfectly

in that state where thou wilt show thyself

fully reconciled,

and alone sufficient, efficient,

loving me completely,

with sin abolished.

O Lord, hasten that day.













2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amen.

Wow, that is quite a prayer, thanks. It's amazing how God guides us; in this case from the comment you left on Chris's (Soldier of Christ) blog. You see, I was given a book budget for Christmas and I think your blog will prove most helpful in determining how best to use it.
God bless,
-jim
http://ke4juh.wordpress.com/

Ron Reffett said...

Hey Jim,
Thanks for dropping by. The Valley of Vision would be a great investment for your spiritual growth, it's a very good book to have on the nightstand!
There are so many great places for you to spend your money and get a great return in edifying books. Monergism books is a great place as is WTSbooks.com, they're by far my favorite.
I'm glad that you found my blog, I look forward to hearing more from you in the future.
Blessings
Ron