Romans 7:24-25

New International Version (NIV)

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

For Meditation

Like Paul, we all struggle with sin. We desire to walk with God in perfect obedience and holiness. However, we struggle with the desires of the flesh, the sparkle and shine of this world, and the arrogance that spring out of status and wealth (1 Jn. 2:16). This spiritual warfare is against our real enemy, Satan, and his demonic forces (Eph. 6:12).

Where,then, do we turn for deliverance in this fierce battle for our hearts and minds? To who  can we turn apart from Christ Jesus, our only Savior and Lord, who has won the battle that Adam lost (Gen. 3:1-7; Lk. 4:1-13; Heb. 4:14-15), and lives to intercede for us (Rm. 8:34)?

Conscious of this struggle, how do we pray when the world is having the best of us, and our walk with Christ has become only a show at best?

I found this helpful prayer in, “The Valley of Vision – A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions”, which I want to share with you today. May it bless you as it has blessed me!

A CRY FOR DELIVERANCE

Heavenly Father,

Save me entirely from sin.

I know I am righteous through the righteousness of another,

      but I pant and pine for likeness to thyself;

I am thy child and should bear thy image;

Enable me to recognize my death unto sin;

When it tempts me may I be deaf to its voice.

Deliver me from the invasion as well as the dominion of sin.

Grant me to walk as Christ walked,

   to live in the newness of His life,

                                             the life of love,

                                            the life of faith,

                                             the life of holiness.

I abhor my body of death,

    its indolence, envy, meanness, pride.

Forgive, and kill these vices,

    have mercy on my unbelief,

                       on my corrupt and wandering heart.

When thy blessings come I begin to idolize them,

     and set my affections on some beloved object –

             children, friends, wealth, honor;

Cleanse this spiritual adultery and give me chastity;

     close my heart to all but thee.

Sin is my greatest curse;

Let thy victory be apparent to my consciousness,

     and displayed in my life.

Help me to be always devoted, confident, obedient,

            resigned, childlike in my trust of thee,

to love thee with soul, body, mind, and strength,

to love with fellow man as I love myself,

            to be saved from unregenerate temper, hard thoughts,

                          slanderous words, meanness, unkind manners,

to master my tongue and keep the door of my lips.

Fill me with grace daily,

      that my life be a fountain of sweet water.

And all God’s children said, amen!

Shalom