A Prayer

Tonight as I was spending some time with the Lord, I was just asking that he would deepen my affections for him, and freshly redirect my heart to wholly focus upon him. In light of who he is, in light of all he has done for me in the cross, and in light of all the blessings he pours out daily, my heart should be so full of grattitude and love!...yet I know I am not but a fraction as thankful as I ought. I so want to love him more, but at the same time realize that it is not something I can just drum up, but must be something that by grace, the spirit develops in my heart. So for that I cry out to him for grace...and know that he delights answer. After praying I randomly openned up the Valley of Vision and happened upon this prayer which was along the lines of what was on my heart...

Christian Love

"O Lover of the loveless
It is thy will that I should love thee
with heart, soul, mind, strength
and my neighbour as myself.

But I am not sufficient for these things.
There is by nature no pure love in my soul;
Every affection in me is turned from thee;
I am bound, a slave to lust,
I cannot love thee, lovely as thou art,
until thou dost set me free.

By grace I am thy freeman and would serve thee,
for I believe tou art my God in Jesus,
and that through him I am redeemed,
and my sins are forgiven.

With this freedom I would always obey thee,
but I cannot walk in liberty,
any more than I could first attain it of myself.
May thy Spirit draw me nearer to thee and thy ways.

Thou art the end of all means,
for if they lead me not to thee,
I go away empty.
Order all my ways by thy holy Word
and make thy commandments the joy of my heart,
that by them I may have hpapy converse with thee.
May I grow in thy love and manifest it to mankind.

Spirit of love, make me like the loving Jesus;
give me his benevolent temper,
his beneficent actions,
that I may shine before men to they glory.
The more thou doest in love in me and by me,
humble me the more;
keep me meek, lowly,
and always ready to give thee honour."