From the Heart of the Pastor

​For several years I have found The Valley of Vision to be a magnificent source of devotional praise.  It is a collection of Puritan prayers on various topics.  Occasionally I reproduce one of these prayer for your encouragement.  Consider the following as an appropriate prayer for Morning Needs:
 
O God, the author of all good,
I come to thee for the grace another day will require
                      For its duties and events.
          I step out into a wicked world,
          I carry about with me an evil heart,
          I know that without thee I can do nothing,
                      That everything with which I shall be concerned,
                                        However harmless in itself,
                             May prove an occasion of sin or folly,
                             Unless I am kept by thy power.
Hold thou me up and I shall be safe.
Preserve my understanding from subtlety of error,
               my affection from love of idols,
               my character from stain of vice,
               my profession for every form of evil.
May I engage in nothing in which I cannot implore thy blessing.
          And in which I cannot invite they inspection.
Prosper me in all lawful undertakings,
          Or prepare me for disappointments.
Give me neither poverty not riches;
Feed me with food convenient for me,
          lest I be full and deny thee
          and say, Who is the Lord?
          or be poor, and steal, and take thy name in vain.
May every creature be mad good to me by prayer and thy will;
Teach me how to use the world, and not abuse it,
                       to improve my talents,
                       to redeem my time,
                       to walk in wisdom toward those without,
                            and in kindness to those within,
                        to do good to all men,
                             and especially my fellow Christians.
And to thee by the glory.        
 
In Christ,
Blain Craig