Your
gracious keeping
(John MacDuff, "The Gates of Prayer")
Anew I commend myself to Your gracious keeping
this day.
Guide me by Your counsel--guard me from temptation--lead
me in the everlasting way.
May every unloving thought--every
unworthy aim and aspiration--give place to what is pure and
unselfish and kind. May every idol that would usurp Your place
be overthrown. May no corrupt thought pollute my heart--no
unworthy utterance defile my tongue--no unholy action stain
my life. Preserve me from the world's insinuating,
seductive
power--and from the treachery and deceitfulness of my own
evil heart.
Whatever is my dominant sin--
ease or pleasure;
pride
or passion;
covetousness or ambition;
enable me by the
promised help of Your Spirit,
to subdue it--nailing it to
the Redeemer's cross.
Defend me from every snare and danger
which may beset my path. Be . . .
my Shield in prosperity;
my Refuge in adversity;
my Comforter in sorrow;
my Light in darkness;
my Hope in death;
my Defender and Vindicator in judgment;
my Joy and Portion through all eternity!