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I love the Confession in the Book of Common Prayer that reads, “Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men; we acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness which we, from time to time, most grievously have committed by thought, word and deed against Thy Divine Majesty, provoking most justly Thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent and are heartily sorry for these our misdoings…”*
I love that Confession. But I hate that Confession. Sometimes I get so weary of my sin that I cry, “What a wretched person I am!” I so look forward to the day when I’ll no longer recite that Confession or transgress against my loving Lord, when I’ll be free from this body of sin and death.
The Puritans prayed, “Oh my Lord, may I arrive where I need no more to weep or watch or be tempted. Where nothing defiles, where there is no grief, sorrow, sin, separation, tears, or consuming cares. Where there is personal completeness. Where the more perfect the sight, the more beautiful the object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more complete the soul, the more happy its joys, where there is full knowledge of Thee.”
Lord, please possess me so that all my thoughts and desires rise to you. Soothe my sorrows. Sanctify every success. May I hate my sin as you hate it… may I grow to love your law as you do. Brighten my hope that soon there will be no more sin, and I will at last find final completeness in you!
* The Book of Common Prayer, The Reformed Episcopal Publication Society, Philadelphia, 1932, p.74. |
