GOD, ALL SUFFICIENT
(A paraphrase of a Puritan’s prayer for 2017)

O Lord of Grace
2017 is before me and in my weakness, I look to you for strength.
If I venture forth alone I will stumble and fall,
but on my Beloved’s arms I am as firm as the eternal hills.
If left to the treachery of my own heart I will shame your name,
but if enlightened, guided, upheld by your Spirit I will bring you glory.

Be my arm to support.
my strength to stand,
my light to see,
my feet to run,
my shield to protect,
my sword to repel,
my sun to warm.

To enrich me will not diminish your fullness;
All your loving-kindness is in your Son.
I bring Him to you in the arms of faith
and plead His saving name and blood
to pay my debts of wrong.

I accept His worthiness for my unworthiness,
His purity for my uncleanness,
His sincerity for my guile,
His meekness for my pride,
His constancy for my backslidings,
His fullness for my emptiness,
His faithfulness for my treachery,
His obedience for my lawlessness,
His glory for my shame,
His holy life for my unchaste ways,
His righteousness for my dead works,
His death for my life.