O Love of the loveless,
It is Thy will that I should love Thee with heart, soul, mind, strength,
and my neighbor as myself. But I am not sufficient for these things.
There is by nature no pure love in my soul; every affection in me us
turned from Thee; I am bound, as a slave to lust, I cannot love Thee,
lovely as Thou art, until Thou dost set me free.
By grace I am Thy freeman and would serve Thee, for I believe Thou
art my God in Jesus, and that through Him I am redeemed, and my sins are
forgiven. With this freedom I would always obey Thee, but I cannot walk
in liberty, any more than I could first attain it, of myself. May Thy
Spirit draw me nearer to Thee and Thy ways.
Thou art the end of all means, for if they lead me not to Thee, I go
away empty. Order all my ways by Thy Holy Word and make Thy commandments
the joy of my heart, that by them I may have happy converse with Thee.
May I grow in Thy love and manifest it to mankind.
Spirit of love, make me like the loving Jesus; give me His benevolent
temper, His beneficent actions, that I may shine before men to Thy
glory. The more Thou doest in love in me and by me, humble me the more;
keep me meek, lowly, and always ready to give Thee honor.
From Valley of Vision – A Collection of Puritan Prayers
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