Work in me more profound and abiding repentance ...

Good Friday morning, my friends.

The following prayer seems to indulge in "self-flagellation", but I believe it speaks the truth.  Rather than considering it to be self-loathing, think of it more as a way for introspection - self-examination.  

These words remind me that I do not hate my sin nearly enough.  

They remind me of the clear difference between who I am and Who God is.

They remind me of the Grace so freely given to me that I do not deserve.

Of what do they remind you?

Amazing grace and peace that surpasses all understanding be yours today,

Bruce

Eternal Father,

Thou art good beyond all thought,

But I am vile, wretched, miserable, blind;

My lips are ready to confess,

but my heart is slow to feel,

and my ways reluctant to amend.

I bring my soul to thee;

break it, wound it, bend it, mould it.

Unmask to me sin's deformity,

that I may hate it, abhor it, flee from it.

My faculties have been a weapon of revolt against thee;

as a rebel I have misused my strength,

and served the foul adversary of thy kingdom.

Give me grace to bewail my insensate folly,

Grant me to know that the way of transgressors is hard,

that evil paths are wretched paths,

that to depart from thee is to lose all good.

I have seen the purity and beauty of thy perfect law,

the happiness of those in whose heart it reigns,

the calm dignity of the walk to which it calls,

yet I daily violate and condemn its precepts.

Thy loving Spirit strives within me,

brings me Scripture warnings,

speaks in startling providences,

allures by secret whispers,

yet I choose devices and desires to my own hurt,

impiously resent, grieve,

and provoke You to abandon me.

All these sins I mourn, lament, and for them cry pardon.

Work in me more profound and abiding repentance;

Give me the fullness of a godly grief that trembles and fears,

yet ever trusts and loves,

which is ever powerful, and ever confident;

Grant that through the tears of repentance

I may see more clearly the brightness and glories of the saving cross.

-Valley of Vision

Bruce MacPherson macpherson@celtic.ca