Faith in the Cross

As Lent comes to completion in the next few days I wanted to share  this excerpt from The Valley of Vision 

FATHER OF MERCIES,

Hear me for Jesus’ sake.

I am sinful even in my closest walk
with thee; it is of thy mercy I died not long ago;
by which thou hast reconciled thyself to me
and me to thee,
drawing me by thy great love,
reckoning me as innocent in Christ though
guilty in myself.
I look to thee for strength to maintain them in me,
for it is hard to practice what I believe.
My heart is an unexhausted fountain of sin,
a river of corruption since childhood days,
flowing on in every pattern of behaviour;
in which I trusted,
and I have no strength but in thee.
Thou alone canst hold back my evil ways,
but without thy grace to sustain me I fall.
and the shield that should quench them
easily drops from my hand:
Empower me against his wiles and assaults.
and of my dependence upon thy strength.
Let every trial teach me more of thy peace,
more of thy love.
and I cannot preserve or improve them
unless he works continually in me.
May he confirm my trust in thy promised help,
and let me walk humbly in dependence upon thee,
for Jesus ’sake.

Thy grace has given me faith in the cross

Giver of all graces,

Strengthen me against temptations.

Thou hast disarmed me of the means

Satan’s darts quickly inflame me,

Keep me sensible of my weakness,

Thy Holy Spirit is given to increase thy graces,