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This was posted a couple of years ago on my old blog, but it’s such a good reminder…
Exhortation to Prayer
What various hindrances we meet
In coming to a mercy-seat!
Yet who that knows the worth of pray’r,
But wishes to be often there?
Pray’r makes the dark’ned cloud withdraw,
Pray’r climbs the ladder Jacob saw;
Gives exercise to faith and love,
Brings ev’ry blessing from above.
Restraining pray’r, we cease to fight;
Pray’r makes the Christian’s armour bright;
And Satan trembles, when he sees
The weakest saint upon his knees.
While Moses stood with arms spread wide,
Success was found on Israel’s side;
But when thro’ weariness they fail’d,
That moment Amalek prevail’d.
Have you no words! Ah, think again,
Words flow apace when you complain;
And fill your fellow-creature’s ear
With the sad tale of all your care.
Were half the breath thus vainly spent,
To heav’n in supplication sent;
Your cheerful song would oft’ner be,
“Hear what the LORD has done for me!”
-William Cowper
One item on my Amazon wish list for Christmas was The Complete English Works of George Herbert, and I was delighted that son Nate chose it as a gift for me. I’m certain that I’ll share some of the poems with you, since he’s one of my favorite poets. Here’s a taste:
Giddiness
Oh, what a thing is man! how far from power,
from settled peace and rest!
He is some twenty sev’ral men at least
Each sev’ral hour.
One while he counts of heav’n, as of his treasure:
But then a thought creeps in,
And calls him coward, who for fear of sin
Will lose a pleasure.
Now he will fight it out, and to the wars;
Now eat his bread in peace,
And snudge in quiet: now he scorns increase;
Now all day spares.
He builds a house, which quickly down must go,
As if a whirlwind blew
And crusht the building: and it’s partly true,
His mind is so.
O what a sight were Man, if his attires
Did alter with his mind;
And like a Dolphin’s skin, his clothes combin’d
With his desires!
Surely if each one saw another’s heart
There would be no commerce,
No sale or bargain pass: all would disperse,
And live apart.
Lord, mend or rather make us: one creation
Will not suffice our turn:
Except thou make us daily, we shall spurn
Our own Salvation.
from The Mystery of Holy Night by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
If God chooses Mary as his instrument,
if God himself want to come into this world
in the manger at Bethlehem,
that is no idyllic family affair,
but the beginning of a complete turnaround,
a reordering of everything on this earth.
If we wish to take part in the Advent and Christmas event,
then we cannot simply be bystanders or onlookers,
as if we were at the theater,
enjoying all the cheerful images.
No, we ourselves are swept up into the action there,
into this conversion of all things.
We have to play our part too on this stage,
For the spectator
is already an actor.
We cannot withdraw.
What part, then, do we play?
Pious shepherds, on bended knee?
Kings who come bearing gifts?
What sort of play is this, where Mary becomes the mother of God?
Where God enters the world in the lowliness of the manger?
The judgment of the world and its redemption—
that is taking place here.
And the Christ child in the manger is himself the one
who pronounces the judgment and the redemption of the world.
He repels the great and the powerful.
He puts down the mighty from their thrones.
He humbles the arrogant,
his arm overpowers all the proud and the strong,
he raises what is lowly and makes it great and splendid
in his compassion.
Therefore we cannot approach his manger
as if it were the cradle of any other child.
Those who wish to come to his manger
find something is happening within them.
Consider, O my soul, what morn is this!
Wherein the eternal Lord of all things made,
For us poor mortals, and our endless bliss,
Came down from heaven; and, in a manger laid
The first, rich, offerings of our ransom paid:
Consider, O my soul, what morn is this !
Consider what estate of fearful woe
Had then been ours, had he refused this birth;
From sin to sin tossed vainly to and fro,
Hell’s playthings, o’er a doomed and helpless earth!
Had he from us withheld his priceless worth,
Consider man’s estate of fearful woe!
Consider what joys he bids thee rise,
Who comes, himself, life’s bitter cup to drain!
Ah! look on this sweet Child, whose innocent eyes
Ere all be done, shall close in mortal pain,
That thou at last Love’s Kingdom may’st attain:
Consider to what joys he bids thee rise!
Consider all this wonder, O my soul;
And in thine inmost shrine make music sweet!
Yea, let this world, from furthest pole to pole,
Join in thy praises this dread birth to greet;
Kneeling to kiss thy Saviour’s infant feet!
Consider all this wonder, O my soul.
Selwyn Image, 1849-1930
I’m thankful for the all-encompassing provision of God and that his timing is always perfect.
Jehovah-Jirah. The Lord Will Provide
The saints should never be dismay’d,
Nor sink in hopeless fear;
For when they least expect His aid,
The Saviour will appear.
This Abraham found: he raised the knife;
God saw, and said, “Forbear!
Yon ram shall yield his meaner life;
Behold the victim there.”
Once David seem’d Saul’s certain prey;
But hark! the foe’s at hand;
Saul turns his arms another way,
To save the invaded land.
When Jonah sunk beneath the wave,
He thought to rise no more;
But God prepared a fish to save,
And bear him to the shore.
Blest proofs of power and grace divine,
That meet us in His word!
May every deep-felt care of mine
Be trusted with the Lord.
Wait for His seasonable aid,
And though it tarry, wait:
The promise may be long delay’d,
But cannot come too late.
William Cowper
Some of the riches of God’s provision are being recorded at Rebecca Writes. Go see what the Lord has done and add your voice to praise him!
