"Meeting God"

Lately I have been immersing myself in an amazing little book "The Valley of Vision," which is a collection of Puritan prayers and devotions.  It is so deep and beautiful I simply cannot miss the opportunity to share just a small portion of it.  I have been drawn frequently to this prayer entitled "Meeting God" in particular:


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,

     worshipping 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 peace 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 me to thee,

         and ever clings to the cross.

Where is my hope, my heart, my soul these days?  What am I focused on?  Where is my trust?  I recently have been reminded by my sister in Christ and best friend of 18 years, Danielle, that when we face trials those are opportunities, given to us by God himself, to ask Him, "God, what are you trying to teach me right now?  In this difficult circumstance, what are you trying to show me, Lord?  What do you want me to know?"  My prayer today is that God would continue to "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 me to thee, and ever clings to the cross."