Reflections – 2018.12

Walking with God

Last week I preached a sermon reflecting on the truth that as Christians, God walks with us.
The question I asked was whether we would respond to this by walking with Him in repentance,
obedience and faith. As I was thinking about this, I came across a prayer in a little book I have
called “The Valley of Vision” … I recommend the book to you, but also wanted to share this
particular prayer as I think it captures what it would mean to walk with God well. Maybe you can
use this prayer as a model for your own as you seek the help we all need in order to live
faithfully as God’s people in this world.

Almighty God,

As I cross the threshold of this day I commit myself, soul, body, affairs, friends, to Thy care;
Watch over, keep, guide, direct, sanctify, bless me.
Incline my heart to Thy ways;
Mould me wholly into the image of Jesus, as a potter forms clay;
May my lips be a well-tuned harp to sound Thy praise;
Let those around see me living by Thy Spirit,
trampling the world underfoot,
uncomformed to lying vanities,
transformed by a renewed mind,
clad in the entire armor of God,
shining as a never-dimmed light,
showing holiness in all my doings.
Let no evil this day soil my thoughts, words, hands.
May I travel miry paths with a life pure from spot or stain.
In needful transactions
let my affection be in heaven,
my love soar upwards in flames of fire,
my gaze fixed on unseen things,
my eyes open to the emptiness, fragility, mockery of earth and its vanities.
May I view all things in the mirror of eternity,
waiting for the coming of my Lord,
listening for the last trumpet call,
hastening unto the new heaven and earth.
Order this day all my communications according to Thy wisdom, and to the gain of mutual good.
Forbid that I should not be profited or made profitable.
May I speak each word as if my last word, and walk each step as my final one.
If my life should end today, let this be my best day.

Amen.