A
brute beast before thee
Groveling
at thy feet
Every
caveat of thy law I’ve broken
I
beseech thee O lord
Hearken
unto thy servant’s voice
A
frame of dust before thee, O Holy One
For
thy righteousness' sake
Kindle
not thy wrath against me
Chasten
me not in thy hot displeasure
Soften
my heart to walk in thy ways
Refine
me and purge off my dross
Remember
mercy for thy name’s sake
Look
upon thy Son, the worthy Lamb
Behold
he nailed my sins upon the tree
My
scarlet stains are white as snow
Cause
thy face to shine upon me
Bless
me and keep me, O my God
Not knowing how to pray as I should, (Romans 8:26)
I often petition the Lord for help. I do
not understand how the Holy Spirit helps our infirmities in prayer but am
amazed by this grace he bestows in the lives of believers*. That said, I have
learned that the Holy Spirit uses his own inspired words to teach us how to
pray. Of course the prime example of this is the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13.)
The Holy Spirit also recorded many prayers of the saints throughout his word. Studying
these teaches us how to pray. Additionally, scripture as a whole teaches us to
pray according to God’s will. As we grow in studying his word, we learn more
about him and his ways. We also learn more about ourselves and how we stand
before him. This prayer applies some concepts I learned from Daniel 9,
(recently studied at my church,) and includes some of the scripture, (mostly
paraphrased rather than quoted exactly,) that I like to incorporate into prayer.
* Westminster Larger Catechism http://www.reformed.org/documents/wlc_w_proofs/
Q. 182. How
doth the Spirit help us to pray?
A. We not knowing what to pray
for as we ought, the Spirit helpeth our infirmities, by enabling us to
understand both for whom, and what, and how prayer is to be made; and by
working and quickening in our hearts (although not in all persons, nor at all times,
in the same measure) those apprehensions, affections, and graces which are
requisite for the right performance of that duty.
Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the
lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Psalm
141:2
