Prayers from the Valley of Vision - Meeting God

A prayer from The Valley of Vision, a book of Puritan prayers and devotions from The Banner of Truth Trust:

Great God,

In public and private, in sanctuary and home,

may my life be steeped in prayer,

filled with the spirit of grace and supplication,

each prayer perfumed with the incense of atoning blood.

Help me, defend me, until from praying ground

I pass to the realm of unceasing praise.

Urged by my need,

invited by Thy promises,

called by Thy Spirit,

I enter Thy Presence,

worshiping Thee with godly fear,

awed by Thy majesty, greatness, glory,

but encouraged by Thy love.

I am all poverty as well as all guilt,

having nothing of my own with which to repay Thee,

But I bring Jesus to Thee in the arms of faith,

pleading His righteousness to offset my iniquities,

rejoicing that He will weigh down the scales for me,

and satisfy Thy justice.

I bless Thee that great sin draws out great grace,

that, although the least sin

deserves infinite punishment

because done against an infinite God,

yet there is mercy for me,

for where guilt is most terrible,

there Thy mercy in Christ is most free and deep.

Bless me by revealing to me more of His saving merits,

by causing Thy goodness to pass before me,

by speaking grace to my contrite heart;

Strengthen me to give Thee no rest until Christ

shall reign supreme within me,

in every thought, word, and deed,

in a faith that purifies the heart,

overcomes the world,

works by love,

fastens men to Thee,

and ever clings to the Cross.