Almighty God,
We thank you that you are slow to become angry and not hasty in pouring out your wrath. We acknowledge that this is far beyond what we deserve. When we ought to have been wiped from the face of the earth, you showed yourself to be one that does not delight in the death of the wicked. You continually give us ample opportunity to confess our sins and turn from them. You urge us to come to you and be restored by your grace.
Truly we are debtors to your mercy. And what great debtors we are. For we have so little rule over our spirits. We cannot even pride ourselves in being good sport for the Devil, for he finds us easy prey. Not only do we yield to his temptations without resistance, but our ungovernable lusts seek his devilish delights.
But O that you would slay the fiendish cravings of our heart, that we might see our passions subdued and our hearts strengthened against all forms of enticement. O Father, we wish to be more inclined to godliness and more fit to fight against the foolish allurements of this world.
But we do not have it within us. So we come to you and ask that our souls would be your conquest. We pray that you would overrule our desires and place within us a spirit of fear and trembling. We pray that you would develop within us a great distaste for sin and a new yearning for what is good, noble, what is excellent and pure.
God give us cleansing, deep and thorough. We do thank you for the gospel promise and the claim to heaven we have in Christ. For he is our righteousness and he holds the keys to life. But we pray earnestly that your Spirit would have his full work in us. That we might ripen in that sweet fruit of self control and permit us to live more honorably to our God and Savior.
