I have been reading through some prayers written back in the 1600’s and 1700’s. One of those prayers was the content of last week’s Back Page. For this week, here is a prayer on seeking God’s divine will for our lives.

        O Lord, I hang on You; I see, believe, and live, when Thy will, not mine, is done; I can plead nothing in myself in regard of any worthiness and grace, in regard of Your providence and promises, but only Your good pleasure.

        If Your mercy makes me poor and vile, blessed are You! Prayers arising from my needs are preparations for future mercies; help me to honor You by believing before I feel, for great is the sin if I make feeling a cause of faith.

        Show me what sins hide You from me and eclipse Your love; help me to humble myself for past evils; to be resolved to walk with more care – for if I do not walk holily before Thee, how can I be assured of my salvation?

        It is the meek and humble who are shown Your mercy, know Thy will, are pardoned and healed, who by faith depend and rest upon grace, who are sanctified and quickened, and who evidence Your love.

        Help me to pray in faith and so find Thy will, by leaning hard on Your rich free mercy, by believing You will give what You have promised. Strengthen me to pray with the conviction that whatever I receive is Your gift, so that I may pray until prayer be granted; teach me to believe that all degrees of mercy arise from several degrees of prayer, that when faith is begun it is imperfect and must grow – as chapped ground opens wider and wider until rain comes.

        So shall I await Thy will, pray for it to be done, and by Thy grace, become fully obedient.

        May this prayer, written out of the abundance of a Christian’s heart some 300 years ago, also be the longing of our hearts.

        Pastor John