Kept by God

Jehovah God,

Thou Creator, Upholder, Proprietor of all

         things,

I cannot escape from thy presence or control,

   nor do I desire to do so.

My privilege is to be under the agency of

   omnipotence, righteousness, wisdom,

   patience, mercy, grace.

Thou art love with more than parental affection;

I admire thy heart, adore thy wisdom,

   stand in awe of thy power, abase myself before

     thy purity.

It is the discovery of thy goodness alone that can

   banish my fear,

   allure me into thy presence,

   help me to bewail and confess my sins.

When I review my past guilt

   and am conscious of my present unworthiness

     I tremble to come to thee,

     I whose foundation is in the dust,

     I who have condemned thy goodness,

       defied thy power,

       trampled upon thy love,

       rendered myself worthy of eternal death.



But my recovery cannot spring from any cause

   in me,

   I can destroy but cannot save myself.

Yet thou hast laid help on One that is mighty,

   for there is mercy with thee,

   and exceeding riches in thy kindness

     through Jesus.

May I always feel my need of him.

Let thy restored joy be my strength;

May it keep me from lusting after the world,

   bear up heart and mind in loss of comforts,

   enliven me in the valley of death,

   work in me the image of the heavenly,

   and give me to enjoy the first fruits of spirituality,

     such as angels and departed saints know.

Valley of Vision