For Deeper Views of Self
“Search me, O God, and i:no“w my heart.” — Pa. cxxxix. 23.
O ETEKNAL, evei’lastmg God, who hast once more enlightened my eyes, and suffered me not to sleep the sleep of death, bestow upon me this day the riches of Thy grace and love. Morning after morning is dawning upon me, with new tokens of Thy mercy. Oh, may these be bringing me nearer the glorious day which is to know no night — that eternal noontide when all shadows and darkness are forever to flee away!
Lord, I am unworthy to come into Thy presence, and yet I have to mourn that I do not feel this deep unworthiness as I ought. I am
unwilling to see into the unknown depths of my sin. I do not know myself. I have no depressing consciousness of the desperate wickedness of my own evil heart. I have buried many bypast transgressions in oblivion. I have deluded myself with the thought, that many were too trivial and unimportant to incur Thy disapproval. Even any imperfect good which Thy grace has enabled me to perform, I have been too prone to take the merit to myself, instead of ascribing all the praise to Thee. There has been pride in my humility. There have been mingled motives in my best services. My best resolutions have been fitful and transient. My purest and most disinterested actions could not stand the scrutiny of Thine eye. The holiest day I ever spent, were I to be judged by it, would condemn me.
O Thou who “sear chest Jerusalem with lighted candles,” do Thou “search my heart.” Bring me to the publican’s place of penitential sorrow, exclaiming, in self-renouncing humility, “God be merciful to me a sinner!”
I would seek to make a more entire and undivided surrender of all I am and have to Thee. Give me such an awful and affecting sense of my vileness, that I may never feel safe but when close by the atoning Fountain, drawing out of it hourly supplies. May mine be a daily heart and self and sin crucifixion — an eternal severance from those bosom traitors which have so long separated between me and my God. Make me more zealous for Thy honor and glory — “Cleanse Thou the thoughts of my heart, by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit” — “Let no iniquity obtain dominion over me.” But may it be my daily ambition to become more like to Thee, reflecting more of the image, and imbibing more of the spirit, of my Divine Redeemer, that thus the atmosphere of holiness and of heaven may be diffused all around me. May my own soul be pervaded with lofty and purified aspirations. May I be enabled to exhibit to the world the felt happiness of close walking with God.
And do Thou, gracious Father,” send forth bo THE MOENING WATCHES.
thy light and thy truth” to a darkened world. May Thine own ancient people be speedily gathered in with the fulness of the Gentile nations, that all ends of the earth may see the salvation of God.
Bless all my dear friends, near or distant. May they have the heritage of those that fear Thy name. Defend them now by thy mighty power, and at last number them with thy saints in glory everlasting. Amen.
“cause me to hear thy loving-kindness in the morning,
FOE in thee do I trust.”
3xtttnt Hunting*
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