A Sober Petition (or, An Earnest Appeal)

Today, there’s a surplus of noise in our lives, yet God still speaks in a quiet voice through the Scriptures and by His Spirit. Taking time to prayerfully focus our attention on God will help us tune in to His comforting, guiding voice. (Daily Bread Devotion-) My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.1 John 3:18 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.Ps.90:14 ***Lulled by this world's noiseoh may it not be soDeafened and blinded to the joysOnly God can bestow *** We live in an age of unprecedented distraction!Oh God, protect me/us from senses dulledby constant appeal...The prayer below is a sober petitioninspired in part by my dream last nightwhen I learned I only had a short time remaining to live,and in part by the awful reality of the regard/disregard of the Word of Godas if it were the word of man! Grant me not peace where sin resistsRepentance, with Reason’s clenched fistsWhere surrender is ‘but in part’Rather than fully yielded heart Grant me not joy where pride defendsChoices of disobedienceConvict me where sly snares invadeLest ‘faith’ becomes a masquerade Dear loving, gracious, holy GodWhile I behold but the façadeWhereby judgement is oft inclinedYou see my heart and soul and mind Then, grant me not dull hopes unfurledBy prospects of this fleeting worldBut rather guard with watchful eyeThe place where true affections lie And grant me not, where sin still reignsA false sense of its broken chainsForbid that I should be deceivedBy erring rationale believed Lord, grant me meeker, purer thirstTo seek you and your kingdom firstThen, help me live each day of gracePrepared to meet Thee, face to face In Jesus' name I pray,Amen © Janet Martin