Free Me From Self

My Lord and my God,
remove far from me
whatever keeps me
from You.

My Lord and my God,
confer upon me
whatever enables me
to reach You.

My Lord and my God,
free me from self
and make me
wholly Yours.

(a prayer of Nicholas of Flue)

Glory to You

Silently Now

Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready, my God, Thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!

(from a hymn by Clara H. Scott; photo illustration by benhoefer via pixabay.com)

Saturday Psalm #128

Lord, I am so blessed
because I revere you,
because I have (however falteringly) walked in your ways.

You have blessed my labors,
you have granted prosperity
by your kindness and grace.

You have blessed me with a wife
who is so lovely,
smart,
capable,
compassionate,
companionable,
and loving.

You have given me children
who are like olive shoots,
always producing good things,
and grandchildren who are unfailing joys to my heart.

Thus have I been blessed
by my relationship with you.

Keep it up, Lord.
Bless me with your holy presence
all the days of my life.

May I see the prosperity of Jerusalem,
signs of your favor on my nation, community, and church,
and may the lovely Robin and I live to see you pour out
still more blessing on us and ours.
Let your peace rest
on all your people,
amen.

(based on Psalm 128; photo via pixabay.com)

If Still the Holy Place

O God, if still the holy place
Is found of those in prayer,
By all the promises of grace
I claim an entrance there.

Give me a self-denying soul,
Enlarged and unconfined;
Abide within me, and control
The wanderings of the mind.

Give me the strength of faith that dares
To die to self each day,
That bravely takes the cross, nor cares
To find an easier way.

Help me to make more sacrifice,
To walk where Christ would lead,
That in my life He may arise
To hallow every deed.

Amen.

(a prayer of General Albert Orsborn; photo by pexels via pixabay.com)

Defender of My Heart

Headlong

(from the Message paraphrase; created on YouVersion app)