March 28, 2009

revive and rekindle

“Father, I am beginning to know

how much I miss when I fail

to talk to Thee in prayer,

and through prayer to receive

into my life the strength and the guidance

which only Thou canst give.

Forgive me for the pride and the presumption

that make me continue to struggle

to manage my own affairs

to the exhaustion of my body,

the weariness of my mind,

the trial of my faith.
In a moment like this I know

that Thou couldst have worked

Thy good in me with so little strain,

with so little effort.

And then to thee would have been given

the praise and the glory.

When I neglect to pray,

mine is the loss.

Forgive me, Lord.
Let not, I pray,

any future forgetfulness of mine,

or a false sense of self-sufficiency,

any spiritual laziness,

or doubt of Thy faithfulness

keep me from taking everything

to Thee in prayer.
And now, I thank Thee

that the fresh breath of heaven

is even now blowing away the close,

damp air of all my failure,

of every doubt and fear.

I ask Thee for that soul tonic of prayer

that shall refurbish my faith,

brighten my hope,

revive and rekindle my love.

In Thy name, I pray. Amen.”

- Peter Marshall