Refuge

(a Puritan prayer from the Valley of Vision)

O Lord,
Whose power is infinite and wisdom infallible, Order things that they may neither hinder, nor discourage me, nor prove obstacles to the progress of thy cause, Stand between me and all strife, that no evil befall, no sin corrupt my gifts, zeal, attainments; May I follow duty and not any foolish device of my own, Permit me not to labour at work which thou wilt not bless, that I may serve thee without disgrace or debt, Let me dwell in thy most secret place under thy shadow, where is safe impenetrable protection from the arrow that flieth by day, the pestilence that walketh in darkness, the strife of tongues, the malice of ill-will, the hurt of unkind talk, the snares of company, the perils of youth, the tempatations of middle life, the mournings of old age, the fear of death.

I am entirely dependent upon thee for support, counsel, consolation.  Uphold me by thy free Spirit, and may I not think it enough to be preserved from falling, but may I always go forward, always abounding in the work thou gives to me to do.  Strengthen me by thy Spirit in my inner self for every purpose of my Christian live.  All my jewels I give to the shadow of the safety that is in thee--my name anew in Christ, my body, soul, talents, character, my success, wife (husband), children, friends, work, my present, my future, my end.  Take them, they are thine, and I am thine, now and forever.