Prayer for Quickening Grace
“Quicken me according to Your love, and I will obey the statutes of Your mouth.” Psalm 119:88
O my Father, on this the close of another day, I desire to approach the footstool of Your throne. Glory be to Your holy name that I can enjoy freedom of access into Your presence, and with the confidence of Your child — unburden and unbosom to You all . . .
my needs and sins,
my sorrows and infirmities,
my perplexities and cares.
O my Father, how unworthy I am of the least of all Your mercies! What righteous cause have You to cut me down as a cumberer of the ground. How cold my love, how infrequent my prayers! How full is my heart, of pride and vain-glory, self and sin! How little have I habitually realized Your nearness, and sought Your favor as my chief good! There is enough of coldness and formality in my best approaches to Your footstool — to lead You in Your wrath to spurn me forever away, and to mingle my blood with my sacrifices!
I cast myself as a worthless unworthy sinner, at the feet of Jesus. I need daily, hourly washing at that fountain which He has opened for sin and for uncleanness. Wash me, gracious Lord — fully, freely, and forever. Let me know the blessedness of “no condemnation.” Deepen my contrition on account of my sin. I am apt to palliate its enormity, to invent vain excuses for its commission, to hide its heinousness from myself, and to hide it from You. Let me see all my sin — in the light of Calvary’s cross! May I hate it with a perfect hatred, and resolve in Your grace that it henceforth shall have no dominion over me. Oh quicken me by the indwelling of Your blessed Spirit. May I seek to be progressing in the divine life. May my pathway heavenward be brightened by a lively sense of reconciliation, through the blood of the everlasting covenant.
Let me lean on Your heavenly arm, seeking Your glory with singleness of eye. May it be my greatest grief to give You pain, my greatest joy and happiness to do Your will. Keep me from all hard thoughts and unrighteous surmises regarding Your dealings. May I see them all as designed to quicken my steps in the heavenly way, to bring me nearer Yourself, and to impart an increasing fitness for glory. Let Your kingdom come, let Your blessed Gospel triumph over the pride and superstition and will-worship of man. Put an end to war and discord, and may all the ends of the earth see Your salvation. Bless Your ministering servants; may they be valiant for the truth, and have no fear — but the fear of God.
Be the Guide and Guardian of all whom I love. Preserve their bodies from danger, and their souls from sin. Watch over them and myself this night; be about our bed, as You have been about our path. Night after night as I retire to rest — may I think of the deeper darkness of the night of death, which must, sooner or later encompass me. Reposing in the merits of my gracious Redeemer, may I be enabled to look beyond death and the grave, to that morning without clouds, when I shall awake in His likeness, and be ushered into the full vision and fruition of You my God; and all that I ask or hope for is for His sake. Amen.
“Let my prayer be set forth before You as incense — and the lifting up of my hands, as the evening sacrifice.”
-John MacDuff
