Richard Alleine: Piercing Heaven – Puritan’s Prayers

Lord, do not be angry that your dust and ashes speak this way to you. But you have raised my expectations, and have made me anticipate great things from you.

If I had not believed, your writing these things to me would have been in vain. Your truth would have been dishonored.

Your words make me repent of my jealousies and my doubtful thoughts about you.

I know you love humble confidence, and delight in nothing more than to see your children trust you. Yet I also know my hopes do not reach a hair’s breadth beyond the foundation of your promises. Surely my expectations fall infinitely short of what I will find.

My God, my heart trusts safely in you, and I here confirm that you are true. Christ is the cornerstone on which I build, so my building will stand up to winds and floods.

And now, O Lord, what am I waiting for? My hope is in you. Let me enjoy you fully, and have you in my life. Desire of my eyes, let me see your lovely face and hear your sweet voice.

I only ask what you have promised. You told me that I will see you, and you will clearly speak to me, face to face.

So my knowledge will be perfected. I will see the inaccessible light, and my tender eyes will not water when I look steadfastly at the Sun of Righteousness, to behold your glory.

My faith will be complete and my hope realized. Love will arise like the full moon in her brightness, and never wax nor wane again.

God of my hopes, I look for a new body and a new soul, for new heavens and a new earth, according to your promise. I look for the day when my whole soul will be wholly taken up with you.

All my affections will strain to the highest pitch, and all the wheels of my raised powers set in active and perpetual motion toward you.

And so there will be an everlasting exchange of joy and glory from you, and of love and praise from me.

Amen.