Philip Doddridge: Piercing Heaven – Puritan’s Prayers

Eternal, unchangeable Jehovah! Your perfections and glories will never change. Jesus your Son is “the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

Then why can I not just come to you with the affection of a child, as I once did? Why do I avoid serving you? It was once my greatest pleasure. Now it seems like a burden.

You see me coming into your presence as if I was forced. And when I am before you, my spirit is so empty that I hardly know what to say to you—though you are my God, and there could never be anything more important than time spent with you.

What happened to the passion I once felt, the intense pursuit of you, O God? And what happened to the wonderful rest I had in you, that feeling of just being happy to be near you—and my determination to never stray from your presence?

I am such a wretched creature, unworthy of being called yours! Unworthy of a place among your children, even the lowest place in your family.

Lord, I am ashamed to stand or kneel before you. But pity me, I beg you, and help me. My soul lays itself in the dust before you. Give me life, according to your word! Do not let me waste any more time—I am at the edge of a cliff!

Give me grace to turn toward your testimonies, without further delay, that I may keep your commandments. Search me, Lord, and try me. Get to the root of this disease which spreads itself over my soul, and heal me.

Show me my sin, Lord, that I may see its horror. Show me Jesus in such a light that I may look upon him and mourn, that I may look upon him and love.

May I awaken from this lethargy into which I am sinking, and may Christ give me a more abundant spiritual life than ever. Alive in him, let me recover the ground I have lost—and then gain yet more!

Send your Spirit on me to dwell in a temple consecrated to himself, and may he direct my holy and acceptable sacrifice of service.

May the incense be constant and fragrant! May the sacred fire burn and blaze perpetually! And may none of its vessels ever be profaned by unholy or forbidden use.

Amen.