Philip Doddridge: Piercing Heaven – Puritan’s Prayers

Blessed God, I acknowledge before you my own weakness and insufficiency for anything that is spiritually good.

I have experienced it a thousand times, and yet my foolish heart would again trust itself and resolve to move ahead in its own weakness.

But let this be the firstfruits of your gracious influence: to bring it to a humble distrust of itself, and to rest in you.

I rejoice, O Lord, in your assurance that you are ready to shower me with rich benefits. So because of your kind invitation, I boldly approach your throne, to find grace for help in every time of need.

I do not mean to turn your grace into a license for immorality or to make my weakness an excuse for negligence and laziness. You have already given me more strength than I have used.

I want to be found diligent in the use of everything you supply. If not, any petition like this one would be a profane mockery, and would probably provoke you to take away what I have, not impart more.

But as I firmly resolve to exert myself, I ask for your grace to fulfill that resolution.

Fill me with the right attitude toward you and my fellow creatures. Remind me always of your presence, and that every secret of my soul is open to you.

May I guard against the first sign of sin, and may Satan find no room for his evil suggestions. Fill my heart with your Holy Spirit, and take up your residence there.

Dwell in me, walk with me, and let my body be the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Take me from one degree of faith, love, zeal, and holiness, to the next, until I appear perfect before you through Jesus Christ my Lord. In him I have righteousness and strength.

Amen.