{"id":492,"date":"2009-07-03T07:15:00","date_gmt":"2009-07-03T11:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rayvanneste.com\/?p=492"},"modified":"2013-06-21T12:21:12","modified_gmt":"2013-06-21T16:21:12","slug":"a-ministers-confession","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/rayvanneste.com\/?p=492","title":{"rendered":"A Minister’s Confession"},"content":{"rendered":"

From Valley of Vision: A collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions<\/a>\"\":<\/p>\n

God,
\nI know that I often do thy work
\nwithout thy power,
\nand sin by my dead, heartless, blind service,
\nmy lack of inward light, love, delight,
\nmy mind, heart, tongue moving
\nwithout thy help.
\nI see sin in my heart in seeking the approbation
\nof others;
\nThis is my vileness, to make men’s opinion
\nmy rule, whereas
\nI should see what good I have done,
\nand give thee glory,
\nconsider what sin I have committed
\nand mourn for that.
\nIt is my deceit to preach, and pray,
\nand to stir up others’ spiritual affections
\nin order to beget commendations,
\nwhereas my rule should be daily
\nto consider myself more vile than any man
\nin my own eyes.
\nBut thou dost show thy power by my frailty,
\nso that the more feeble I am,
\nthe more fit to be used,
\nfor thou dost pitch a tent of grace
\nin my weakness.
\nHelp me to rejoice in my infirmities
\nand give thee praise,
\nto acknowledge my deficiencies before others
\nand not be discouraged by them,
\nthat they may see thy glory more clearly.
\nTeach me that I must act by a power supernatural,
\nwhereby I can attempt things above my strength,
\nand bear evils beyond my strength,
\nacting for Christ in all,
\nand have his superior power to help me.
\nLet me learn of Paul
\nwhose presence was mean,
\nhis weakness great,
\nhis utterance contemptible,
\nyet thou didst account him faithful and blessed.
\nLord, let me lean on thee as he did,
\nand find my ministry thine.<\/p>\n

(posted Thurs at http:\/\/www.banneroftruth.org\/pages\/dailydevotion_detail.php?2399<\/a>)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From Valley of Vision: A collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions: God, I know that I often do thy work without thy power, and sin by my dead, heartless, blind service, my lack of inward light, love, delight, my mind, heart, tongue moving without thy help. I see sin in my heart in seeking the …<\/p>\n

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