A Word to Refresh Your Heart

On the first day of my English Puritanism class, Dr. Shawn Wright, my professor, prayed a prayer which truly riveted my heart.  As he began to conclude his prayer, I recognized some words which my heart had been refreshed before.  As I peaked up, I saw him reading from my favorite devotional book, The Valley of Vision.  Here is the prayer he prayed.  May it rivet your heart as it has mine.

O My Saviour,
help me.
I am so slow to learn, so prone to forget, so weak to climb;
I am in the foothills when I should be in the heights;
I am pained by my graceless heart,
                         my prayerless days,
                         my poverty of love,
                         my sloth in the heavenly race,
                         my sullied conscience,
                         my wasted hours,
                         my unspent opportunities.
I am blind while light shines around me:
     take the scales from my eyes,
     grind to dust the evil heart of unbelief.
Make it my chief joy to study thee,
               mediate on thee,
               gaze on thee,
               sit like Mary at thy feet,
               lean like John on thy breast,
               appeal like Peter to thy love,
               count like Paul all things dung.
Give me increase and progress in grace so that there may be
          more decision in my character,
          more vigour in my purposes,
          more elevation in my life,
          more fervour in my devotion,
          more constancy in my zeal.
As I have a position in the world,
     keep me from making the world my position;
May I never seek in the creature
     what can be found only in the creator;
Let not faith cease from seeking thee until it vanishes into sight.
Ride forth in me, thou king of kings, and lord of lords,
     that I may live victoriously, and in victory attain my end.


I pray that your heart is renewed today for the glory of the king who rides forth and rules in our hearts.  May he delight in those who joyfully devote themselves to him.