Grace from Heaven (eBook)

ALIVE IN YOUR GRACE

(PRAYERS OF PRAISE)

LOOKING TO THE SKY, WE PRAISE YOUR NAME

You made heaven and earth for our sake, mighty God. You made the sun and moon for our use, as though they were our servants.

Raise our minds heavenward and upward to think on your true glory, by these your blessings.

May we faithfully worship you alone, surrendering ourselves entirely to you. Even while we enjoy the benefits of all the stars—and also the entire earth—may we know that we are bound to you by so many favors, that we may be more and more roused to do what is just and right.

So we will work to glorify your name on the earth, as we enjoy the blessed glory which comes from Christ our Lord, amen.

—John Calvin

JESUS, YOUR NAME IS SWEET

Lord, your name is good! Sweet and glorious, full of health. We desire your name!

Wicked spirits cannot bear you, when they behold Jesus—either in mind, or if they hear the name actually spoken.

I sought to love Jesus, and the more I grew complete in his love, so much the sweeter and savory was his name to me. So the name of Jesus is blessed forever and ever, and so be it. Amen.

—John Wycliffe

TEACH US IN THE SCHOOL OF PRAISE

Almighty God, though we see and hear so many testimonies of your glory every day, we can be so blind and shut out all the light by our ingratitude.

Teach us to open our eyes. Yes, open them by your Spirit! Help us to spend time thinking on how many, how great, and how deep are your blessings toward us.

And while you set before us the proof of your eternal divinity, help us to excel in this school of devotion. May we learn to give you all praise, until there is nothing left to do but to glorify you alone. May we all the more grow in our ardent desire to worship you, the more you bend down to us in grace.

May we also devote ourselves to you and grow to care about this one thing: that your glory may remain and shine forth throughout all the world, through Christ our Lord, amen.

—John Calvin

TO THE GOD WHO IS BEYOND COMPREHENDING

Up with our hearts—we lift them up to you, Lord.

It is right, fitting, and due in all things, for all things, at all times, in all places, by all means, in every season, everywhere, every way, to mention you, to worship and praise you, to bless you and sing to you, to give thanks to you, and to confess our sins before you.

You are the maker, nourisher, and preserver. The governor, protector, author, and finisher of all. You are the Lord and father, king and God, the fountain of everlasting life, the treasure of eternal good things.

The heavens sing your praises with the angels and all heavenly powers. They never stop calling out your praise. So we join in from under their feet, weak and unworthy, to cry “holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts.”

Heaven and earth are full of your glory. We bless you for everything about you that we will never comprehend—for your Godhead, your height, your sovereignty, your almightiness and eternity, and your guidance and care.

You are my strength and my rock, my defense and my savior, my might, my shield, the source of my salvation, and my refuge. Amen.

—Lancelot Andrewes

YOUR NAME IS GREAT

Lord God Almighty, by your Spirit you have united us into your one body in the unity of the faith. You have commanded your body to give praise and thanks unto you for that bounty and kindness with which you have delivered your only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, unto death for our sins.

Now grant that we may fulfill this command in faith, never offending or provoking you with false displays. You are the infallible truth.

Grant also that we may live purely—the way we should as your body, your children, and your family. That way, may even unbelievers learn to recognize your name and your glory.

Keep us, Lord, so your name and glory are never tarnished through the depravity of our lives.

We always pray, “Lord, increase our faith. Increase our trust in you, who lives and reigns, world without end.”

And we respond as your church: Amen.

—Huldrych Zwingli

JOINING IN THE CONCERT OF PRAISE

We praise you, Lord. Holy one, you are worthy to receive glory, honor, and power. All flesh will come to you—you hear our prayers. I come, too.

My sins have overwhelmed me. But show mercy, so I may come and give thanks and bless you with all the believers for all that you have done. Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will speak your praise.

My soul praises you, Lord, for the goodness you have done throughout all creation. I praise you for the mercy you have shown me: body, soul, right here and now. I praise you for the mercy you have shown all humanity. For health and safety, for a quiet life.

You have not cut off my life; you have granted me breath until this hour, from childhood even until now. You have rescued me from dangers, sickness, poverty, bondage, public shame, and evil. You did not give me up to die in my sins as you waited for me to turn to you in faith. You let me turn to my heart and remember—with a measure of shame and grief, even horror at my past sins.

Give me now a larger and fuller vision of my need, Lord. You have granted me the good hope that you will melt away those sins as I repent, by your power. I call to mind your benefits, and even for those I have not known about, I confess and give thanks to you. I bless and praise you every day.

And I pray with my whole soul, with my whole mind: Glory be to you, Lord, glory to you and to your all-holy name.

Glory to you for your divine perfection. Glory to you for your incomprehensible and incomparable goodness. Glory to you for your mercy toward sinners and unworthy people—and toward me—of all sinners the most unworthy by far.

For all this and for the rest, Lord, I give you glory and praise, blessing and thanks. I join my voice in the concert of mortals and angels, of all your saints in heaven, and all your creatures in heaven or on earth—though I remain beneath their feet, an unworthy and wretched sinner.

I am your humble creature, now, in this day and hour, and every day until my last breath, and until the end of the world, forever and ever, amen.

—Lancelot Andrewes

I PASS ALL THINGS TO YOU

As I walk among the snares of this world, Lord Jesus, I pray that you would defend me from all the plagues and subtle dangers. Grant that I would contend as I should with all things that happen—by setting my eyes only on you, moving ahead unhindered in your way, and passing along all things to you.

“Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths” (Psalm 25:4).

Amen.

—John Bradford

NO SWEETER NAME

What can be sweeter than the name of Jesus!

O blessed Jesus, would you indeed be a Jesus to me. For your holy name’s sake have compassion on me!

My life condemns me, but the name of Jesus will save me. For your name’s sake deal with me according to your name. And since you are a true and great savior, you will surely treat those who are real and great sinners with mercy.

Have mercy on me, blessed Jesus, in the day of mercy, so as not to condemn me in the day of judgment. If you will receive me in the arms of your compassion, you will not be reduced on my account. If you will allow me crumbs of your goodness, you will not be made poorer. You were born for me (Isaiah 9:6) and for me you are Jesus.

How sweet and delightful is the name of Jesus! For what is Jesus but Savior? And what real harm can happen to the saved? What beyond salvation can we seek or expect?

Receive me, O Lord Jesus, as your child, so that as your child I may praise your holy and saving name. If I have lost my original innocence through my sin, have I deprived you of your mercy? Even if I have miserably destroyed and condemned myself, can you not still compassionately save me?

Do not so regard my sins, O Lord, as to forget your own mercy. Do not so weigh and measure my offenses so they outweigh your merit. Do not so consider my evil as to overlook your own good. Do not remember wrath against a culprit, but remember your mercy toward a miserable sinner.

Lord, you have given me a desire for you, so won’t you fulfill my longing desire? You who have shown me my unworthiness and just condemnation, will you hide from me your merit and promise of eternal life? My cause must be tried before a heavenly tribunal. But it comforts me that in this court the name of savior has been given you. That blessed name was brought from heaven by the angel (Luke 2:21).

Most merciful Jesus, to whom will you be a Jesus, if not to wretched sinners seeking grace and salvation?

Those who trust in their own righteousness and holiness seek salvation in themselves. But I find in me nothing worthy of eternal life, so I flee to you as my savior. Save me, for I am condemned. Have mercy on me, for I am a sinner. Justify me, for I am unrighteous. Acquit me, for I am accused of sin.

Lord, you are the truth (John 14:6). Your name is holy and true, so let your name be true in respect to me. Be my Jesus and my savior! Be my Jesus in this life; be my Jesus...