Word of Encouragement (10/15/2021)

Another evening prayer from John Baillie as we finish this week:

“Almighty God, in this hour of quiet I seek communion with you. I want to turn away from the worry and fever of today’s work, from the world’s jarring noises, from the praise and blame of other people, from the confused thoughts and fantasies of my own heart, and instead seek the quietness of your presence. All day long I have been working and striving, but now in stillness of heart and in the clear light of your eternity, I want to think about the pattern my life has been weaving.

May there fall on me now, O God, a great sense of your power and your glory, so that I may see all earthly things as they really are.

Help me to know more deeply that with you one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like one day.

Give me now such a clear understanding of your perfect holiness that I may no longer be full of pride in my own achievements.

Give me now such a clear vision of your uncreated beauty that I may never be satisfied with anything less.

Though earth and man were gone,

And suns and universes cease to be,

And Thou wert left alone,

Every existence would exist Thee.

“Dear Father, I am content to leave my life in your hands, knowing that you have counted every hair of my head. I am content to give over my will to yours, believing I can find in you a righteousness, an integrity, that I could never have obtained on my own. I am content to leave all my loved ones in your care, believing that your love for them is greater than mine. I am content to leave in your hands the causes of truth and justice and the coming of your kingdom, believing that my passion for them is just a feeble shadow of your steady purpose.

“To you, O God, be glory forever. Amen.”

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