A Disciple's Renewal

"O my Saviour,

Help me.

I am slow to learn,

so prone to forget,

so weak to climb.

Mount Arbel, Tiberius, Israel



I am in the foothills when I should be

on the heights;

The view from the top of Mount Arbel

I am pained by my graceless heart,

my prayerless days,

my poverty of love,

my sloth in the heavenly race,

my sullied conscience,

my wasted hours,

my unspent opportunities.

Sunrise over the Sea of Galilee

I am blind while light shines around me:

take the scales from my eyes,

grind to dust the evil heart of unbelief.

Make it my chiefest joy to study thee,

meditate on thee,

sit like Mary at they feet,

lean like John on thy breast,

appeal like Peter to thy love,

count like Paul all things dung.

Tombs overlooking the Sea of Galilee

Give me increase and progress in grace

so that there may be

more decision in my character,

more vigour in my purposes,

more elevation in my life,

more fervour in my devotion,

more constancy in my zeal.

Chorazim, Israel

As I have a position in the world,

keep me from making the world my position;

May I never seek in the creature

what can be found only in the Creator;



Let not faith cease from seeking thee

until it vanishes into sight.

Ride forth in me, thou King of kings, and Lord of lords,

that I may live victoriously,

and in victory attain my end."

The Valley of Vision

Puritan Prayers and Devotions

Arthur Bennett