Before Whom Angels Bow !!!

The Puritan had a way of praying that either makes a hearer today sit in humble introspection at the content of our own prayers or dismiss them as reflection of a people in need of some kind of assurance. The latter being somewhat of irony for the Puritans prayed that way because of their extreme assurance in the sovereignty of an Almighty God who has made a way of salvation so miraculous, so marvelous, so merciful that it can defy explanation to even the Christian mind. Thirty-five years ago Arthur Bennett edited a book of Puritan prayers that has moved many, many Christians, I being just one. I have included some of these prayers throughout the almost three years of this blog and want to give you another today. I encourage you to invest in this book if only to read one prayer a day to  hold our feet to what is humility, reverance and joy in prayer. The title is The Valley Of Vision and can be ordered from Amazon or any bookstore:

Lord of Immortality,

Before whom angels bow and archangels veil their faces,
enable me to serve thee with reverence and godly fear.
Thou who art Spirit and requirest truth in the inward parts,
help me to worship thee in spirit and in truth.
Thou who art righteous,
let me not harbour sin in my heart,
or indulge in a worldly temper,
or seek satisfaction in things that perish.
I hasten towards an hour
when earthly pursuits and possessions will appear vain,
when it will be indifferent whether I have been rich or poor,
successful or disappointed,
admired or despised.
But it will be of eternal moment that I have
mourned for sin,
hungered and thristed after righteousness,
gloried in his cross.
May these objects engross my chief solicitude!
Produce in me those principles and dispositions
that make thy service perfect freedom.
Expel from my mind all sinful fear and shame,
so that with firmness and courage I may
confess the Redeemer before men,
go forth with him bearing his reproach,
be zealous with his knowledge,
be filled with his wisdom,
walk with his circumspection,
ask counsel of him in all things,
repair to the Scriptures for his orders,
stay my mind on his peace,
knowing that nothing can befall me
without his permission, appointment
and administration.