The Valley of Vision: Need of Grace

O Lord,
Thou knowest my great unfitness for service,
my present deadness,
my inability to do anything for thy glory,
my distressing coldness of heart,
I am weak, ignorant, and unprofitable.,
and loathe and abhor myself.

I am at a loss to know what thou wouldst have me do,
for I feel amazingly deserted by thee,
and sense thy presence so little,
Thou makest me possess the sins of my youth,
and the dreadful sin of my nature,
so that all I feel is sin.
I cannot think or act but every motion is sin.

Return again with showers of converting grace
to a poor gospel-abusing sinner.
Help my soul breathe after holiness,
after a constant devotedness to thee,
after growth in grace more abundantly each day.

O Lord, I am lost in the pursuit of this blessedness,
And I am ready to sink because I fall short
of my desire,
Help me to hold out a little longer,
until the happy hour of deliverance comes,
for I cannot lift my soul to thee
if thou goodness bring me not nigh.

Help me to be diffident, watchful, tender,
lest I offend my blessed Friend
in thought and behavior;
I confide in thee and lean on thee.
and need thee at all times to assist and lead me.

O that all my distresses and apprehensions
might prove but Christ's school
to make me fit for greater service
by teaching me humility.