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O LORD,

Whose power is infinite and wisdom infallible, 

Order things that they may neither hinder, 

nor discourage me,

nor prove obstacles to the progress of thy cause;

Stand between me and all strife, that no evil befall, 

no sin corrupt my gifts, zeal, attainments;

May I follow duty and not any foolish device 

of my own;

Permit me not to labour at work which thou wilt

not bless,

that I may serve thee without disgrace or debt;

Let me dwell in thy most secret place under thy

shadow,

where is safe impenetrable protection from 

the arrow that flieth by day,

the pestilence that walketh in darkness,

the strife of tongues,

the malice of ill-will

the hurt of unkind talk,

the snares of company,

the perils of youth,

the temptations of middle life,

the mournings of old age,

the fear of death.

I am entirely dependent upon thee for support, 

counsel, consolation.  

Uphold me by thy free Spirit,

and may I not think it enough to be preserved

from falling, but may I always go forward, always abounding 

in the work thou gives me to do.

Strengthen me by thy Spirit in my inner self

for every purpose of my Christian life.

All my jewels I give to the shadow of the safety

that is in thee -

my name anew in Christ,

my body, soul, talents, character, 

my success, wife, children friends, work

my present, my future, my end.

Take them, they are thine, and I am thine,

now and for ever. 

REFUGE The Valley of Vision; Puritan Prayers and Devotions

"Oh poor Job!"  I declared aloud this morning as I read about his oozing and worm infested sores in Job 7.

But the night is long,

and I am full of tossing till the dawn.

My flesh is clothed with worms and dirt;

my skin hardens, then breaks out afresh.  

Job was a 'blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil'.  

Why is it, that we still today, think that if our life is full of tragedy or difficulty God must have something against us?  Even Job thought that there was something in his life that he was unaware of that would require that he go through such horrific suffering.

The reality of our suffering is highlighted in the book of Job.  Satan cannot harm us or let loose on us unless God give him access to our lives.  God is good and in His goodness he knew that Job would not curse Him and die a spiritual death without his Maker but instead he would grow in his understanding of who God is and how he loved him.

The puritan writer seems to have insight that was given from the book of Job.  Look how he addresses God in the beginning of the prayer.

O LORD,

Whose power is infinite and wisdom infallible, ...

He is not presuming to know more than God before he makes his requests known.  He recognizes that when you follow God there will be obstacles and difficulties but it does not hinder him from asking the Lord to get him safely through his life.  He is asking for spiritual vitality and growth.  

Whether we are facing death, disease, relational difficulties or a toxic environment, God is with us and He hears our prayers and He will use every bit of our struggles to accomplish His plan and display His glory through our lives.

Romans 8:26-28

Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  

For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, 

but the Spirit himself intercedes for us 

with groaning too deep for words.  

And he who searches hearts 

knows what is the mind of the Spirit, 

because the Spirit intercedes for the saints 

according to the will of God.  

And we know that for those who love God 

all things work together for good, 

for those who are called according to his purpose.