A Prayer for Scriptural Convictions

  • Tim Challies
  • 05/25/08
  • 3

Continuing my new habit of posting prayers on Sunday, here is a prayer for Scriptural convictions. It is once more drawn from The Valley of Vision. It seemed appropriate in a week I’ve been considering how I tend not to regard Scripture as the treasure it is. This is a prayer praising God for the gift of the Bible and asking forgiveness for regarding it so little and so lightly.

O God of love,
I approach thee with encouragements derived from thy character,
for I am not left to feel after thee in the darkness of my nature,
nor to worship thee as the unknown God.
I cannot find out thy perfections,
but I know thou art good,
ready to forgive, plenteous in mercy.
Thou hast displayed thy wisdom, power, and goodness in all thy works,
and hast revealed thy will in the Scripture of truth.
Thou hast caused it to be preserved, translated, published, multiplied,
so that all men may possess it and find thee in it.
Here I see thy greatness and thy grace,
thy pity and thy rectitude,
thy mercy and thy truth,
thy being and men’s hearts;
Through it thou hast magnified thy name,
and favoured mankind with the gospel.
Have mercy on me,
for I have ungratefully received thy benefits,
little improved my privileges,
made light of spiritual things,
disregarded thy messages,
contended with examples of the good,
rebukes of conscience, admonitions of friends, leadings of providence.
I deserve that thy kingdom be taken away from me.
Lord, I confess my sin with feeling, lamentation, a broken heart,
a contrite spirit, self-abhorrence, self-condemnation, self-despair.
Give me relief by Jesus my hope,
faith in his name of Saviour,
forgiveness by his blood,
strength by his presence,
holiness by his Spirit:
And let me love thee with all my heart.

Comments (3)

1
Anonymous's picture
a comment from David McClelland • 05/25 @ 4:33pm

At our church (Oak Ridge Reformed Baptist) in north Houston, we love The Valley of Vision as well! Our elders read a selection from it each week as part of our corporate prayer time.

2
Anonymous's picture
a comment from Stan McCullars • 05/25 @ 4:34pm

Thanks for your post. The Valley of Vision is a family favorite. Today’s topic was appropriate for me as well. This morning, in my reading through the One Year Bible plan, I read Psalms 119:33-48 in the Revised English Bible.

Verses 33-37 jumped off the page as I read.

Teach me, LORD, the way of your statutes, and in keeping them I shall find my reward.

Give me the insight to obey your law and to keep it wholeheartedly.

Make me walk in the path of your commandments, for that is my desire.

Dispose my heart towards your instruction, not towards love of gain;

turn my eyes away from all that is futile; grant me life by your word.

3
Anonymous's picture
a comment from matthew • 05/25 @ 4:35pm
› visit my web site.

It’s always amazed me how I can pick up Valley of Vision and have it speak to me exactly where I am in my walk…good or bad.

It’s a book that can slam you to the dirt and then rise you to the clouds within one page.

Matthew