The Reformed Christian Muse

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

The promise that God is making me, that he is fashioning me to be like His Son, is a most glorious truth. It provides hope to the weary.

My prayer to God from this passage:

 Father, make me like your Son. Grant to me the power to walk in obedience and to forsake my sin. Forgive me and cleanse me. My prayer is that today I will bring glory to your name. That men will see my good works and glorify you, heavenly Father. Amen.

Blessings in Christ,
Terry W. WEst

Almighty God, we never cease to cut ourselves off from you by our sins, and yet you gently urge us to repentance, and promise also to hear our prayer with favor. Grant we may not stubbornly keep in our sins and be ungrateful to your great generosity, but may return to you in such a way as to witness by our lives to the genuineness of our repentance, and may so rest in you alone as to resist being buffeted hither and thither by the perverse lust of our flesh. Rather, grant we may stand firm and fast in a right purpose and so endeavour to obey you throughout our lives, at last receiving the fruit of our obedience in your heavenly kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

John Calvin (A.D. 1509-1564)

Q196:  What doth the conclusion of the Lord’s prayer teach us?
A196:  The conclusion of the Lord’s prayer (which is, For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.),[1] teaches us to enforce our petitions with arguments,[2] which are to be taken, not from any worthiness in ourselves, or in any other creature, but from God;[3] and with our prayers to join praises,[4] ascribing to God alone eternal sovereignty, omnipotency, and glorious excellency;[5] in regard whereof, as he is able and willing to help us,[6] so we by faith are emboldened to plead with him that he would,[7] and quietly to rely upon him, that he will fulfil our requests.[8] And, to testify this our desire and assurance, we say, Amen.[9]

1.  Matt. 6:13
2.  Rom. 15:30
3.  Dan. 9:4, 7-9, 16-19
4.  Phil. 4:6
5.  I Chr. 29:10-13
6.  Eph. 3:20-21; Luke 11:13
7.  II Chr. 20:6, 11
8.  II Chr. 14:11
9.  I Cor. 14:16; Rev. 22:20-21

 It it such a sin of pride and presumption to go about our lives making plans as if we are not absolutely dependent upon the Lord. This is the sin that James condemns, “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”–  yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.  Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”   As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” (James 4:13-17) May God forgive me this sin.

Proverbs 20:24  A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?

My prayer to God from this passage:

Father, forgive me of this sin of arrogance. Forgive me for living my life as if I am autonomous, as if I am independent from you, Oh Lord, my Creator and sustainer!

And now, as my Saviour Christ has taught me, I am bold to pray:

 Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And for give us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Blessings in Christ,
Terry W. West

My tendency is to want things to come easy. I am impatient and want things to happen now. This verse is hits me right at home.The Christian life, it seems, would be so much easier without the constant warfare. If I had my way, I (like the prodigal son) would want my inheritance right now. All of it. But, God has not designed it this way. To receive our full inheritance we must persevere. We must endure much tribulation and suffering in this life. But the blessing that we shall receive, the inheritance that is promised to us in Christ, it of surpassing glory. May I, as Paul, keep this truth ever in my mind, so that I too can proclaim that, “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”(Romans 8:18 )

Proverbs 20:21 An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.

My prayer to God from this verse:

Father, I confess unto you my sin, I have not loved you in thought, word, or deed, I have not loved my neighbor as myself, for Christ’s sake, have mercy on me, and forgive me of my sin and cleanse me from my unrighteousness. Father, grant to me the grace to endure whatever you have providentially purposed for me. Help me to learn to appreciate and give thanks for all that You teach me by the trials of this life, knowing that you, Oh Lord, are faithful who has promised me my inheritance in Christ. Oh what a blessing I will receive in the end. Amen.

And now, as my Saviour Christ has taught me, I am bold to pray:

Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And for give us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Blessings in Christ,
Terry W. West

Proverbs 20:13  Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.

My prayer to God from this verse:

Father, my you grant to me a attitude of diligence. I ask that you give to me the grace to diligently seek after you and your kingdom. Forgive me for neglecting my duty and responsibility. May I, by your grace, see every hour of everyday as a gift from you that i do not deserve, but that I should use to seek the kingdom first and bring glory to your name by my good works. Amen.

And now, as my Saviour Christ has taught me, I am bold to pray:

 Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And for give us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Blessings in Christ,
Terry W. West

Q194:  What do we pray for in the fifth petition? 
A194:  In the fifth petition (which is, Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors,)[1] acknowledging, that we and all others are guilty both of original and actual sin, and thereby become debtors to the justice of God; and that neither we, nor any other creature, can make the least satisfaction for that debt:[2] we pray for ourselves and others, that God of his free grace would, through the obedience and satisfaction of Christ, apprehended and applied by faith, acquit us both from the guilt and punishment of sin,[3] accept us in his Beloved;[4] continue his favor and grace to us,[5] pardon our daily failings,[6] and fill us with peace and joy, in giving us daily more and more assurance of forgiveness;[7] which we are the rather emboldened to ask, and encouraged to expect, when we have this testimony in ourselves, that we from the heart forgive others their offenses.[8]

1.  Matt. 6:12
2.  Rom. 3:9-22; Matt. 18:24-25; Psa. 130:3-4
3.  Rom. 3:24-26; Heb. 9:22
4.  Eph. 1:6-7
5.  II Peter 1:2
6.  Hosea 14:2; Jer. 14:7
7.  Rom. 15:13; Psa. 51:7-10, 12
8.  Luke 11:4; Matt. 6:14-15; 18:35

Grant, Almighty God, since we have already entered in hope upon the threshold of our eternal inheritance and know that there is a mansion for us in heaven since Christ our head, and the firstfruits of our salvation, has been received there; grant that we may proceed more and more in the way of your holy calling until at length we reach the goal and so enjoy the eternal glory of which you have given us a taste in this world by the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

John Calvin (A.D. 1509-1564)

Q193:  What do we pray for in the fourth petition? 
A193:  In the fourth petition (which is, Give us this day our daily bread,)[1] acknowledging, that in Adam, and by our own sin, we have forfeited our right to all the outward blessings of this life, and deserve to be wholly deprived of them by God, and to have them cursed to us in the use of them;[2] and that neither they of themselves are able to sustain us,[3] nor we to merit,[4] or by our own industry to procure them;[5] but prone to desire,[6] get,[7] and use them unlawfully:[8] we pray for ourselves and others, that both they and we, waiting upon the providence of God from day to day in the use of lawful means, may, of his free gift, and as to his fatherly wisdom shall seem best, enjoy a competent portion of them;[9] and have the same continued and blessed unto us in our holy and comfortable use of them,[10] and contentment in them;[11] and be kept from all things that are contrary to our temporal support and comfort.[12]

1.  Matt. 6:11
2.  Gen. 2:17, 3:17; Rom. 8:20-22; Jer. 5:25; Deut. 28:15-68
3.  Deut. 8:3
4.  Gen. 32:10
5.  Deut. 8:17-18
6.  Jer. 6:13; Mark 7:21-22
7.  Hosea 12:7
8.  James 4:3
9.  Gen. 28:20; 43:12-14; Eph. 4:28; II Thess. 3:11-12; Phil. 4:6
10. I Tim. 4:3-5
11. I Tim. 6:6-8
12. Prov. 30:8-9

Lord, Jesus Christ, I approach your banquet table in fear and trembling, for I am a sinner, and dare not rely on my own worth but only on your goodness and mercy. I am defiled by many sins in body and soul, and by my unguarded thoughts and words. Gracious God of majesty and awe, I seek your protection, I look for your healing; Poor troubled sinner that I am, I appeal to you, the fountain of all mercy. I cannot bear your judgment, but I trust in your salvation. Lord, I show my wounds to you. I know my sins are many and great, and they fill me with fear, but I hope in your mercies, for they cannot be numbered.
Lord Jesus Christ, eternal King, God and man, crucified for mankind, look upon me with mercy and hear my prayer, for I trust in you. Have mercy on me, full of sorrow and sin, for the depth of your compassion never ends. Praise to you, saving sacrifice, offered on the wood of the cross for me and for all mankind. Praise to the noble and precious blood,
flowing from the wounds of my crucified Lord Jesus Christ and washing away the sins of the whole world. Remember, Lord, your creature, whom you have redeemed with your blood. I repent my sins, and I long to put right what I have done. Merciful Father, take away all my offenses and sins; purify me in body and soul, and make me worthy to taste the holy of holies. May your body and blood, which I intend to receive, although I am unworthy, be for me the remission of my sins, the washing away of my guilt, the end of my evil thoughts, and the rebirth of my better instincts. May it incite me to do the works pleasing to you and profitable to my health in body and soul, and be a firm defense against the wiles of my enemies. Amen.

St. Ambrose Bishop of Milan (A.D. 337-397)

Thou art our Shepherd; we’re thy flock. Thou art our Redeemer; we’re the people thou hast bought back. Thou art our God; we are thine inheritance.  Therefore, be not angry against us to correct us in thy wrath. Recall not our iniquity to punish it, but chastise us gently in thy kindliness. Because of our demerits, thine anger is enflamed, but be mindful that thy name is called upon among us, and that we bear thy mark and badge. Undertake, rather, the work that thou hast already begun in us by thy grace in order that the whole earth may recognize that thou art our God and Saviour. Amen.

John Calvin (A.D. 1509-1564)

Q192:  What do we pray for in the third petition?  
A192:  In the third petition (which is, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven,)[1] acknowledging, that by nature we and all men are not only utterly unable and unwilling to know and do the will of God,[2] but prone to rebel against his word,[3] to repine and murmur against his providence,[4] and wholly inclined to do the will of the flesh, and of the devil:[5] we pray, that God would by his Spirit take away from ourselves and others all blindness,[6] weakness,[7] indisposedness,[8] and perverseness of heart;[9] and by his grace make us able and willing to know, do, and submit to his will in all things,[10] with the like humility,[11] cheerfulness,[12] faithfulness,[13] diligence,[14] zeal,[15] sincerity,[16] and constancy,[17] as the angels do in heaven.[18]

1.  Matt. 6:10
2.  Rom. 7:18; Job 21:14; I Cor. 2:14
3.  Rom. 8:7
4.  Exod. 17:7; Num. 14:2
5.  Eph. 2:2
6.  Eph. 1:17-18
7.  Eph. 3:16
8.  Matt. 26:40-41
9.  Jer. 31:18-19
10. Psa. 119:1, 8, 35-36; Acts 21:14
11. Micah 6:8
12. Psa. 100:2; Job 1:21; II Sam. 15:25-26
13. Isa. 38:3
14. Psa. 119:4-5
15. Rom. 12:11
16. Psa. 119:80
17. Psa. 119:112
18. Isa. 6:2-3; Psa. 103:20-21; Matt. 18:10

We the covenant people of God have been given many gifts from God. We each have been given a vocation in the Kingdom of God. In light of being in covenant with God and being a husband and father, the gift I desire most is to be faithful in this God given vocation. This passage in Proverbs is the cry of my heart, especially in view of the fact that I fall so short of my duties to my family.

Pro 18:16 A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before the great.

I pray that my gift of being both husband and father will make room for me. That I will perform these duties to the glory of God and the true spiritual well being of my family. That in the end my family may be a testimony, before all who behold, of God’s grace and mercy.

My prayer back to the Lord from this passage:

Holy Spirit, grant to me the the power and ability to be the husband and father I am commanded to be. Show me your favor, pour into my heart that love that Christ has for his church. Gift me with the willingness to give myself for my wife and children. Grant me repentance for my sin and failure to be all that you have commanded me to be. Your commandments, oh God, are a delight, they are perfect and ordained to life. Subdue my sinful heart and conform me to the image of the one who gave himself for me. The one who bore my sins in his own body and satisfied the wrath of God in my place. The one for who’s sake I have graciously been granted me life and righteousness, having been united to him in my baptism, and given freely that faith which justifies. May I perform my vocation and make use of my gifts to the glory of God through Christ alone. Amen.

Blessings in Christ,
Terry W. West

I greet thee, who my sure Redeemer art, my only trust and Saviour of my heart, who pain didst undergo for my poor sake; I pray thee from our hearts all cares to take. Thou art the King of mercy and of grace, reigning omnipotent in every place: so come, O King, and our whole being sway; shine on us with the light of they pure day. Thou art the Life, by which alone we live, and all our substance and our strength receive; O comfort us in death’s approaching hour, strong-hearted then to face it by thy power. Thou hast the true and perfect gentleness, no harshness hast thou and no bitterness: make us to taste the sweet grace found in thee and ever stay in thy sweet unity. Our hope is in no other save in thee; our faith is built upon thy promise free; O grant to us such stronger hope and sure that we can boldly conquer and endure. Amen.

From the Strassburg Psalter (A.D. 1545)

Q191:  What do we pray for in the second petition.?
A191:  In the second petition (which is, Thy kingdom come,)[1] acknowledging ourselves and all mankind to be by nature under the dominion of sin and Satan,[2] we pray, that the kingdom of sin and Satan may be destroyed,[3] the gospel propagated throughout the world,[4] the Jews called,[5] the fulness of the Gentiles brought in;[6] the church furnished with all gospel officers and ordinances,[7] purged from corruption,[8] countenanced and maintained by the civil magistrate:[9] that the ordinances of Christ may be purely dispensed, and made effectual to the converting of those that are yet in their sins, and the confirming, comforting, and building up of those that are already converted:[10] that Christ would rule in our hearts here,[11] and hasten the time of his second coming, and our reigning with him forever:[12] and that he would be pleased so to exercise the kingdom of his power in all the world, as may best conduce to these ends.[13]

1.  Matt. 6:10
2.  Eph. 2:2-3
3.  Psa. 67:1, 18; Rev. 12:10-11
4.  II Thess. 3:1
5.  Rom. 10:1
6.  John 17:9, 20; Rom. 11:25-26; Psa. ch. 67
7.  Matt. 9:38; II Thess. 3:1
8.  Mal. 1:11; Zeph. 3:9
9.  I Tim. 2:1-2
10. Acts 4:29-30; Eph. 6:18-20; Rom. 15:29-30, 32; II Thess. 1:11; 2:16-17
11. Eph. 3:14-20
12. Rev. 22:20
13. Isa. 64:1-2; Rev. 4:8-11

“Fill thou my life, O Lord my God, in every part with praise,
That my whole being may proclaim thy being and thy ways:
Praise in the common things of life, its goings out and in;
Praise in each duty and each deed, however small and mean.
Fill every part of me with praise; let all my being speak
Of thee and of thy love, O Lord, poor though I be and weak.
So shall no part of day or night from sacredness be free,
But all my life, in every step, be fellowship with thee. Amen.”

Horatius Bonar (A.D. 1808-89)

“Jesus, lead Thou on till our rest is won;
And although the way be cheerless,
We will follow calm and fearless:
Guide us by Thy hand to our fatherland.”
“Jesus, lead Thou on till our rest is won;
Heav’nly Leader, still direct us,
Still support, control, protect us,
Till we safely stand in our fatherland. Amen.”

Nicholas Ludwig Count von Zinzendorf (A.D. 1700-1760)

“O Prince of Life, teach us to stand more boldly on your side, to face the world and all our adversaries more courageously, and not to let ourselves be dismayed by any storm of temptation; may our eyes be steadfastly fixed on you in fearless faith; may we trust you with perfect confidence that you will keep us, save us, and bring us through by the power of your grace and the riches of your mercy. Amen.”

Gerhard Tersteegen (A.D. 1697-1769)

“O Lord, let me not henceforth desire health or life, except to spend them for you, with you, and in you. You alone know what is good for me; do, therefore, what seems best to you. Give to me, or take from me; conform my will to yours; and grant that, with humble and perfect submission, and in holy confidence, I may receive the orders of your eternal Providence; and may equally adore all that comes to me from you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

Blaise Pascal (A.D. 1623-1662)

“O God, who art the teacher and giver of all wisdom, be Thou present,
by Thy Spirit, with us as we engage, yea, that we may engage
together in these [seminary] studies. Open Thou our eyes that we
may behold wondrous things out of Thy law. May Thy Holy Scriptures
be our pure delight; may we neither be deceived in reading them, nor
handle them deceitfully. Sanctify us through Thy truth; Thy word is
truth. Preserve, defend, enlarge this seminary, consecrated to Thy
glory. Let envy, strifes, divisions, heresies be forever at a distance.
May orthodoxy prevail, may piety flourish, let mercy and truth meet
together, let righteousness and peace kiss each other. Our beloved
country, rescued by Thy wonder-working right hand from so many
evils, do Thou preserve in safety and peace…And after our days in
this life have been spent in prolonged felicity, do Thou at last
transfer us, with all thine elect, to heaven itself. This is the sum of
our prayers, this is the sum of our hope. Hear and accept us, O
Triune Jehovah! Amen.”

Herman Witsius (A.D. 1636-1708 )