The Prayer of Love
GRACIOUS LORD,
Thy name is love,
in love receive my prayer.
My sins are more than the wide sea’s sand,
but where sin abounds,
there is grace more abundant.
Look to the cross of thy beloved Son,
and view the preciousness of his atoning blood;
Listen to his never-failing intercession, and whisper to my heart,
‘Thy sins are forgiven,
be of good cheer, lie down in peace’
Grace cataracts from heaven and flows for ever,
and mercy never wearies in bestowing benefits.
Grant me more and more
to prize the privilege of prayer,
to come to thee as a sin-soiled sinner,
to find pardon in thee, to converse with thee;
to know thee in prayer as the path in which my feet tread,
the latch upon the door of my lips, the light that shines through my eyes,
the music of my ears,
the marrow of my understanding,
the strength of my will,
the power of my affection,
the sweetness of my memory.
May the matter of my prayer be always
wise, humble, submissive,
obedient, scriptural, Christ-like.
Give me unwavering faith that supplications are never in vain,
that if I seem not to obtain my petitions I shall have larger,
richer answers, surpassing all that I ask or think.
Unsought, thou hast given me the greatest gift,
the person of thy Son,
and in him thou wilt give me all I need.
—Valley of Vision
“God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). This truth should cheer our hearts no matter where we find ourselves; we’re never beyond His love and its grip. In this prayer, the petitioner recognizes that our sin draws us to God for His loving response; like a shower to cleanse us, we are refreshed and renewed. The more of His love we discover and experience, the more it draws us as we move through life and the more it buoys us in life’s storms. Utilize this prayer as your heart’s cry today. Seize on His loving invitation to come, find renewal, courage, and strength to walk forward, “fastened” to Him. —DH
—David Hoskins, Founder & Care Guide, Sanctuary Clinics