Out of Egypt:

prayer, 9.1.07

Lord, I pray that You would make me
                  more mindful of You,
                  more thankful for Your mercy,
                  more grateful for Your provision.
    Let me learn grace: that what cost You dearly
                  can never be cheap to us.

I thank You that when we are faithful, you remain
                          faithful:
                     You cannot deny Yourself.
I thank You that Your Word is true,
                   Your mercies are new every morning,
                   You have provided us with everything
                     necessary for life and godliness.

I pray that I would learn to live within Your Word,
                   to rely upon Your grace,
                   to welcome Your Spirit in.
When I speak, let my words be leavened
                   with the Word of God.
Let me be humble in my knowledge
    and gentle in my judgment:
    slow to speak, and quick to listen.
Let me share my heart with others
    as You have Yours with me.

Lord, I pray that you would free me from
             all fear of Hell,
             all questioning of Your justice,
             all ingratitude in the face of providence.
Let me see You as You are:
    wholly just and wholly merciful.

Let me trust in the mystery of salvation - 
     that You call all sinners to repent,
        and yet are the author of repentance;
     that You have made sufficient pardon for all,
        and yet apply pardon to Your elect;
     that You ordain all things,
        but are not the author of evil.
And if, in my weakness, it is Your will
     that I should continue
        for a time yet with this lack of light,
      do not let my flesh use it as a barrier to fellowship,
and do not let Satan have reason to boast.

Give me strength for the day,
      that I may stand firm, even in loss,
      that I may speak a word in season to the needy,
      that I may be a comfort to the discouraged.

All things are Yours, Lord, and You give them freely;
teach me to hold my possessions rightly,
that I may represent You to the world.

Righteous Father! that the world may know You, come
     to us in Christ newly each day,
strengthen us in Your Spirit.

I am a stranger in this world; 
    help me teach people Your hope,
      Your promise of the world's remaking:
    And guide us into Your church,
    and bind us into one,
and bring our love to perfection.

I want change now; teach me Your patience,
to bear with the bruised reed,
    the mustard seed, the tiny cloud -
until we flourish in Your reign of grace.
I am waiting for the Day.
                            Amen.