A Prayer for Prayer

March 1

In Prayer

O LORD,

In prayer I launch far out into the eternal world,

and on that broad ocean my soul triumphs

over all evils on the shores of mortality.

… In prayer I see myself as nothing;

I find my heart going after thee with intensity,

and long with vehement thirst to live to thee.

Blessed be the strong gales of the Spirit

that speed me on my way to the New Jerusalem.

In prayer all things below here vanish, 

and nothing seems important

but holiness of heart and the salvation of others.

… In prayer I am lifted above the frowns and flatteries

of life,

and taste heavenly joys;

entering into the eternal world

I can give myself to thee with all my heart,

to be thine forever.

In prayer I can place all my concerns in thy hands,

to be entirely at thy disposal,

having no will or interest of my own.

… Help me to be all prayer

and never to cease praying.

 

From The Valley of Vision, edited by Arthur Bennett