Let the healing grace of your love, O Lord, so transform me

Let the healing grace of your love, O Lord, so transform me that I may play my
part in the transfiguraton of the world from a place of suffering, death and
corruption to a realm of infinite light, joy and love. Make me so obedient to
your Spirit that my life may become a living prayer, and a witness to your
unfailing presence.

Martin Israel

Spirit of God, descend upon my heart

Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
wean it from earth; through all its pulses move;
stoop to my weakness, mighty as thou art,
and make me love thee as I ought to love.

I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies,
no sudden rending of the veil of clay,
no angel visitant, no opening skies;
but take the dimness of my soul away.

Hast thou not bid me love thee, God and King?
All, all thine own, soul, heart and strength and mind.
I see thy cross; there teach my heart to cling.
O let me seek thee, and O let me find!

Teach me to feel that thou art always nigh;
teach me the struggles of the soul to bear.
To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh,
teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.

Teach me to love thee as thine angels love,
one holy passion filling all my frame;
the kindling of the heaven-descended Dove,
my heart an altar, and thy love the flame.

George Croly, 1867

Let no riches make me ever forget myself

Let no riches make me ever forget myself, no poverty make me to forget thee:
let no hope or fear, no pleasure or pain, no acident without, no weakness within,
hinder or discompose my duty, or turn me from the ways of thy commandments. O
let thy Spirit dwell with me forever . . .

Jeremy Taylor, 1613-67

We beg you, Lord, to help and defend us

We beg you, Lord, to help and defend us. Deliver the oppressed, pity the
insignificant, raise the fallen, show yourself to the needy, heal the sick, bring
back those of your people who have gone astray, feed the hungry, lift up the
weak, take off the prisoners' chains. May every nation come to know that you alone
are God, that Jesus Christ is your Child, that we are your people, the sheep
that you pasture.

St. Clement of Rome, c. 100

My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet

My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare.
Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles
of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish. Look upon my affliction
and my distress and take away all my sins. See how my enemies have increased
and how fiercely they hate me! Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to
shame, for I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness protect me,
because my hope is in you. Redeem Israel, O God, from all their troubles!
Psalm 25:15-22

Most gracious God, preserve us from the cares of this life

Most gracious God, preserve us from the cares of this life, lest we should be
too much entangled therein; also from the many necessities of the body, lest we
should be ensnared by pleasure; and from whatever is an obstacle to the soul,
lest, being broken with troubles, we should be overthrown. Give us strength to
resist, patience to endure, and constancy to persevere; for the sake of Jesus
Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471)

Lord God, in return for they great love

Lord God,
in return for thy great love
I would bring an offering,
But there is only one worthy offering
The perfect obedience of thy Son
even unto death.

Lord God,
I remember that offering,
I plead it before thee,
And though it be all-sufficient
I add to it
the offering of myself,
body, mind, and spirit,
mind, heart and will,
all that I have,
all that I am,
all that by thy grace I can become.

Accept, O Lord God,
this unworthy sacrifice
and cleanse
and sanctify
and use it
in the service of thy kingdom for his dear sake.

George Appleton

O Holy Spirit, whose presence is liberty, grant us that freedom

O Holy Spirit, whose presence is liberty, grant us that freedom of the Spirit
which will not fear to tread in unknown ways, nor be held back by misgivings of
ourselves and fear of others. Ever beckon us forward to the place of thy will
which is also the place of thy power, O ever-leading, ever-loving Lord.

George Appleton