2010 September | Soli Deo Gloria

Weaknesses

O Spirit of God,
Help my infirmities; when I am pressed down with a load of sorrow, perplexed and knowing not what to do, slandered and persecuted, made to feel the weight of the cross, help me I pray Thee.

If Thou seest in me any wrong thing encouraged, and evil desire cherished, any delight that is not Thy delight, any habit that grieves Thee, any nest of sin in my heart, then grant me the kiss of Thy forgiveness, and teach my feet to walk the way of Thy commandments.

Deliver me from carking care, and make me a happy, holy person; help me to walk the separated life with firm and brave step, and to wrestle successfully against weakness; teach me to laud, adore, and magnify Thee, with the music of heaven, and make me a perfume of praiseful gratitude to Thee.

I do not crouch at Thy feet as a slave before a tyrant, but exult before Thee as a son with a father. Give me power to live as Thy child in all my actions, and to exercise sonship by conquering self. Preserve me from the intoxication that comes of prosperity; sober me when I am glad with a joy that comes not from Thee.

Lead me safely on to the eternal kingdom, not asking whether the road be rough or smooth. I request only to see the face of Him I love, to be content with bread to eat, with raiment to put on, if I can be brought to Thy house in peace.

From Valley of Vision – a Collection of Puritan Prayers

Look Outside of Yourself!

In his autobiography Seen and Heard, itinerant Scottish evangelist James McKendrick tells of the glorious conversion of George Mayes, known for miles around as the most outrageous sinner in his district. When McKendrick returned some time later to the area where Mayes lived, however, he found him in a troubled state of soul. “I don’t seem to feel as I did,” George lamented. “George”, said McKendrick, “if you had a shilling in your pocket and felt wonderfully happy, would the shilling be worth fifteen pence because you felt happy? “No,” said George. “Well, how much would it be worth?” “Just twelve pence,” he answered. “And suppose, if you were miserable and had a shilling in your pocket, would it only be worth nine pence because you are miserable?” Again, George responded, “No.” “How much then?” asked McKendrick. “Just twelve pence,” said George. “Well do you see your joy does not add to the value of the shilling, nor your misery take from its value, and that it is worth twelve pence no matter how you feel?” “Yes, that is what I believe,” George replied. “Then tell me – is it your happy feelings or the blood of Christ that puts your sins away?” “Oh it is the blood of Christ,” George responded. “Then don’t you see that when you are happy you are not more safe, and when unhappy you are not less safe? It is the blood of Christ that puts your sins away, and makes you safe, and keeps you safe all year round,” Kendrick concluded. To this we can say “Hallelujah!”

Christian, are you looking inside for confidence? You will never have it! Even the massive anchors of ocean vessels will do no good if they are cast inside the hold. They must be cast outside of the ship! Cast your anchor on Jesus Christ! Put all your trust in Him! His righteousness alone is your confidence and your hope.

- Charles Leiter from Justification and Regeneration

Not What My Hands Have Done

Not what my hands have done can save my guilty soul;
Not what my toiling flesh has borne can make my spirit whole.
Not what I feel or do can give me peace with God;
Not all my prayers and sighs and tears can bear my awful load.

Your voice alone, O Lord, can speak to me of grace;
Your power alone, O Son of God, can all my sin erase.
No other work but Yours, no other blood will do;
No strength but that which is divine can bear me safely through.

Thy work alone, O Christ, can ease this weight of sin;
Thy blood alone, O Lamb of God, can give me peace within.
Thy love to me, O God, not mine, O Lord, to Thee,
Can rid me of this dark unrest, And set my spirit free.

I bless the Christ of God; I rest on love divine;
And with unfaltering lip and heart I call this Savior mine.
His cross dispels each doubt; I bury in His tomb
Each thought of unbelief and fear, each lingering shade of gloom.

I praise the God of grace; I trust His truth and might;
He calls me His, I call Him mine, My God, my joy and light.
’Tis He Who saveth me, and freely pardon gives;
I love because He loveth me, I live because He lives.

- Horatius Bonar, “Not What My Hands Have Done“

These Words Are Faithful and True

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true. The He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be His God and he will be My son. But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolater and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:3-8

RT @paulwasher: In Christ, we have been saved from our sin, reconciled to God, and granted sonship! What more could we desire or what mo ...

Soli Deo Gloria

Proclaiming the Glory of God in Jesus Christ

Monthly Archives: September 2010

Weaknesses

Look Outside of Yourself!

Not What My Hands Have Done

These Words Are Faithful and True

What is the Gospel?

Whom Have I In Heaven But You?

What is the Bible Really About?

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