May
20
2007
A Prayer before Approaching God
Compassionate Lord,
I praise you continually for permission to approach your throne of grace,
and to spread my needs and desires before you.
I am not worthy of your blessings and mercies for I am unrighteous.
My depraved nature reveals itself in disobedience and rebellion;
my early days discovered in me discontent, pride, envy, revenge.
Remember not the sins of my youth,
nor the multiplied transgressions of later years,
my failure to improve time and talents,
my abuse of mercies and means,
my wasted Sabbaths,
my perverted seasons of grace,
my long neglect of your great salvation,
my disregard of the friend of sinners.
While I confess my guilt, help me to feel it deeply,
with self-abhorrence and self-despair,
yet to remember there is hope in you,
and to see the Lamb that takes away sin.
Through him may I return to you,
listen to you,
trust in you,
delight in your law,
obey you,
be upheld by you.
Preserve my understanding from error,
my affections from the love of idols,
my lips from speaking guile,
my conduct from stain of vice,
my character from appearance of evil,
that I may be harmless, blameless, rebukeless,
exemplary, useful, light-giving, prudent,
zealous for your glory and the good of my neighbor.
- adapted from the Valley of Vision (Puritan Prayers)