A Disciple's Renewal

O My Savior,
Help me.
I am so slow to learn,
So prone to forget,
So weak to climb;
I am in the foothills when I should be on the heights;
I am pained by my graceless heart,
My prayerless days,
My poverty of love,
My sloth in the heavenly race,
My sullied conscience,
My wasted hours,
My unspent opportunities.
I am blind while light shines around me:
Take the scales from my eyes,
Grind to dust the evil heart of unbelief.
Make it my chiefest joy to study You,
Meditate on You,
Gaze on You,
Sit like Mary at Your feet,
Lean like John on Your breast,
Appeal like Peter to Your love,
Count like Paul all things dung.
Give me increase and progress in grace so that there may be
More decision in my character,
More vigor in my purposes,
More elevation in my life,
More fervor in my devotion,
More consistency in my zeal.
As I have a position in the world,
keep me from making the world my position;
May I never seek in the creature what can be found only in the Creator;
Let not faith cease from seeking You until it vanishes into sight.
Ride forth in me, O King of kings and Lord of lords,
That I may live victoriously, and in victory attain my end.

(Adapted from Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions, Arthur Bennett, Editor)