FOR DEEPER VIEWS OF SELF - John MacDuff 1852

            FOR DEEPER VIEWS OF SELF

"In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You — and wait in expectation."

"Search me, O God, and know my heart." — Psalm 139:23

O eternal, everlasting God, who have once more enlightened my eyes, and allowed me not to sleep the sleep of death, bestow upon me this day the riches of Your grace and love. Morning after morning is dawning upon me, with new tokens of Your mercy. Oh, may these be bringing me nearer the glorious day which is to know no night — that eternal noon-tide when all shadows and darkness are forever to flee away!

Lord, I am unworthy to come into Your presence, and yet I have to mourn that I do not feel this deep unworthiness as I ought. I am unwilling to see into the unknown depths of my sin. I do not know myself. I have no depressing consciousness of the desperate wickedness of my own evil heart. I have buried many past transgressions in oblivion. I have deluded myself with the thought, that many were too trivial and unimportant to incur Your disapproval. Even any imperfect good which Your grace has enabled me to perform, I have been too prone to take the merit to myself, instead of ascribing all the praise to You. There has been pride in my humility. There have been mingled motives in my best services. My best resolutions have been fitful and transient. My purest and most unselfish actions could not stand the scrutiny of Your eye. The holiest day I ever spent, were I to be judged by it, would condemn me.

O You who "searches Jerusalem with lighted candles," "search my heart." Bring me to the publican's place of penitential sorrow, exclaiming, in self-renouncing humility, "God be merciful to me a sinner!"

I would seek to make a more entire and undivided surrender of all I am and have to You. Give me such a dreadful and affecting sense of my vileness, that I may never feel safe but when close to the atoning Fountain, drawing out of it hourly supplies. May mine be a daily heart and self and sin crucifixion — an eternal severance from those bosom traitors which have so long separated between me and my God. Make me more zealous for Your honor and glory — "Cleanse the thoughts of my heart, by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit" — "Let no iniquity obtain dominion over me." But may it be my daily ambition to become more like You, reflecting more of the image, and imbibing more of the spirit, of my Divine Redeemer, that thus the atmosphere of holiness and of heaven may be diffused all around me. May my own soul be pervaded with lofty and purified aspirations. May I be enabled to exhibit to the world the felt happiness of close walking with God.

And gracious Father, "send forth Your light and Your truth" to a darkened world. May Your own ancient people be speedily gathered in with the fullness of the Gentile nations, that all ends of the earth may see the salvation of God.

Bless all my dear friends, near or distant. May they have the heritage of those who fear Your name. Defend them now by Your mighty power, and at last number them with Your saints in glory everlasting. Amen.

"Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul."

Some rights reserved

Taken on: June 11, 2018

Tags:

bicycle

cycle

Heart

Pedal

Devotional

Black

johnninetwentyfive

TMI

ChristianPilgrim « less

Sets appears in: • Christian Pilgrim • Cycling

Groups appears in: • FlickrCentral • Photography more » • Bike Nation • Flickr Addicts • All People • bicycles x 自転車 • I Want To Ride My Bicycle • !FlickrSoup for Soul • Amateurs • CHRISTIAN PHOTOGRAPHY • BICYCLE in the street • bicycle • Bicycle Touring • Christian Teens • Flickritis: over 87,000 waiting for a vaccine. • Flickr Nature • Photography Corner • Christians in this World • FlickrToday (only 1 pic per day) • Total Photography (No AI or SL) • bicycle_culture • Christian Photographer Fellowship • photoFaith • Bicycle Friendly • Photography Gallery (3 photos/day) • The World Through My Eyes ... • bike bike bike • The Bicycle • CentralFlickr • Flickrific- Welcome New Members! Invite your friends! • Christian Friends • A MOMENT OF LIFE • Christian Photographers :) • Life Through My Viewfinder • Christian Inspiration • Your Best Photography • Bicicletas • Life Journey • Photography Club • " Life Is Great - C'est La Vie - So ist das Leben !" • "Unlimited Photos: No Rules" • Dazed and Confused - New Photographer Search • bicycle, fiets, Fahrrad, bicicleta, vélo, bicicletta • Christian Photography Guild • Flickr Number One !! • Bicycle Addicts • BIKE+PHOTO • Bicycle as Art • I ♥ My Bicycle • New Flickr of Hope • CHRISTIAN PHoToSHoP ! • the world of bicycles • Flickr's Biggest Group • Christians on Flickr • Christians of the World (Share Your Ministry) • amateurs unlimited • ***Flickr Global • FLICKR ADIKS • BICYCLE & CREATIVITY • moments in our life • Amateur Photographers Online • Bicicletas-Bicycles-Biciclettes • ` FLICKR ´ • Flickr Amateur Photography • Flickr Photographer • flickr (unofficial) • Fellow Photographers in Christ • Flickr center • Flickr Rides • Magic of Photography • !*ALL ARE WELCOME*! • !*Flickr All Stars*! • flickr world wide • Group for all users of FLICKR - No 30/60 Groups Limit « less

Stats: 4,807 views / 5 comments

go back

Link to this photo view:
Link to this photo large view: