Every morning I wake up early with the coffee already brewed and ready to pour. Two things about my morning coffee: (1) I don’t like for it to get cold; (2) I don’t like to get out of my chair to reheat my coffee in the microwave.
So for years I’ve used a coffee warmer that sits on the table right next to my easy chair. Because this little device keeps my coffee warm, I can linger longer. (This is the time I read my Bible, pray, and do some extra reading.)
But I also need help keeping my heart warm, too. Usually Bible reading is not a problem for me. But I find that my prayers are often proportionately shorter than they should be.
When I come before the throne of grace, I need to linger longer.
In this regard the prayers of the Puritans have been a wonderful resource for me. The weight of their biblical substance and the warmth of their tone help me to linger longer in God’s presence.
As I mentioned in a previous post, the language of these prayers is a bit antiquated, like the King James Version of the Bible. But, as one pastor-friend of mine put it, “When used slowly, for meditation and prayer, these [prayers] have often been used by God’s Spirit to kindle my dry heart.”
Last weekend I shared a prayer to be offered on the eve of the Lord’s Day. But here is another prayer meant to be offered actually on the Lord’s Day.
May it warm your heart.
Don’t rush through it.
Linger longer.
The Lord’s Day
O LORD my LORD,
This is thy day,
the heavenly ordinance of rest,
the open door of worship,
the record of Jesus’ resurrection,
the seal of the sabbath to come,
the day when saints militant and triumphant unite in endless song.
I bless thee for the throne of grace,
that here free favor reigns;
that open access to it is through the blood of Jesus;
that the veil is torn aside and I can enter the holiest
and find thee ready to hear,
waiting to be gracious,
inviting me to pour out my needs,
encouraging my desires,
promising to give more than I ask or think.
But while I bless thee, shame and confusion are mine:
I remember my past misuse of sacred things,
my irreverent worship,
my base ingratitude,
my cold, dull praise.
Sprinkle all my past sabbaths with the cleansing blood of Jesus, and may this day witness deep improvement in me.
Give me in rich abundance the blessings the Lord’s Day was designed to impart;
May my heart be fast bound against worldly thoughts or cares;
Flood my mind with peace beyond understanding;
may my meditations be sweet,
my acts of worship life, liberty, joy,
my drink the streams that flow from thy throne,
my food the precious Word,
my defense the shield of faith,
and my heart be more knit to Jesus.
Amen.