There are no prayers like the Puritan prayers, as you know if you’ve read The Valley of Vision. This is something we’ve bought copies of for friends and pastors. This morning Nanci read one to me that she especially appreciated. I wanted to share it with you. Hope it touches you as it did us. 

Things Needful

Thou Eternal Source,
Author of all created being and happiness,
    I adore thee for making man capable
       of religion,
    that he may be taught to say:
       ‘Where is God, my Maker, who giveth
        songs in the night?’
But degeneracy has spread over our
       human race,
    turning glory into shame,
    rendering us forgetful of thee.
 We know it is thy power alone
    that can recall wandering children,
    can impress on them a sense of divine things,
    and can render that sense lasting and effectual;
From thee proceed all good purposes and desires,
    and the diffusing of piety and happiness.
Thou hast knowledge of my soul’s secret
       principles,
    and art aware of my desire to spread the gospel.
Make me an almoner to give thy
    bounties to the indigent,
    comfort to the mentally ill,
    restoration to the sin-diseased,
    hope to the despairing,
    joy to the sorrowing,
    love to the prodigals.
Blow away the ashes of unbelief by
       thy Spirit’s breath
    and give me light, fire, and warmth of love.
I need spiritual comforts
    that are gentle, peaceful, mild, refreshing,
    that will melt me into conscious lowliness
       before thee,
    that will make me feel and rest in thee
       as my All.
Fill the garden of my soul with the wind of love,
    that the scents of the Christian life may be
       wafted to others;
    then come and gather fruits to thy glory.
So shall I fulfill the great end of my being--
    to glorify thee and be a blessing to men.

(from ‘The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers,’ edited by Arthur Bennett)