81 / Purified by Grace

Lord Jesus, I am sinful.

Help me that I may
never cease grieving because of my sin,
never be content with myself,
never think I can reach a point of perfection.

Kill my envy,
command my tongue,
trample down my selfish pride.

Give me grace to be holy, kind, gentle, pure, peaceable,

  • to live for You and not for myself,
  • to copy Your words, acts, spirit,
  • to be transformed into Your likeness,
  • to be consecrated and set apart entirely to You,
  • to live completely for Your glory.

Deliver me from attachment to things unclean,

  • from wrong associations,
  • from the predominance of evil passions,
  • from the sugar of sin as well as its bitterness;
  • that I may, with self-loathing, deep contrition, and earnest heart searching,
    • come to You,
    • cast myself on You,
    • trust in You, cry to You,
    • and be delivered by You.

O God, the Eternal Everything,
help me to know that all things are shadows, but You are the Substance,

  • all things are quicksand, but You are the Mountain,
  • all things are shifting, but You are the Anchor,
  • all things are ignorance, but You are the Wisdom.

If my life is to be a vessel used to purify a love of God amid a burning heat, so be it,
but dear Christ, sit at the furnace mouth to watch the ore that no good from You is lost.
If I sin willfully, grievously, tormentedly,
Then Shake me, Shock me, Unhinge me by Your Grace
Undress every hidden place and remove my obscure idols Christ, until I’m only Thine

In Mercy…

  • take away my mourning and give me music;
  • remove my sackcloth and clothe me with beauty;
  • still my sighs and fill my mouth with song,
  • and over my wintry heart send the summer breeze of Your Favor

Undress every hidden place and remove my obscure idols Christ, until I’m only Thine