thoughts and ruminations while in exile (1 Pet. 2:11)

LORD, You will establish peace for us, Since You have also performed all our works (Isaiah 26:12).

God, having all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of himself, is alone in and unto himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creature which he hath made, nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting his own glory in, by, unto, and upon them; he is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things, and he hath most sovereign dominion over all creatures, to do by them, for them, or upon them, whatsoever himself pleaseth; in his sight all things are open and manifest, his knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature, so as nothing is to him contingent or uncertain; he is most holy in all his counsels, in all his works, and in all his commands; to him is due from angels and men, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience, as creatures they owe unto the Creator, and whatever he is further pleased to require of them (London Baptist Confession, Ch.2:2).

In order to fight sin, and glorify God by enjoying Him more and more I have decided to increase the intensity of my devotional life. In my daily Bible reading, I'm endeavoring to read with a closer eye and make an increased effort to make appropriate application. I'm asking, "How will what I have just read cause me to be different today?" I've also been meeting regularly with my good friend A.D. (this is his wife's myspace) and we have a great time reading the Bible together and discussing it afterwards.

In addition to daily Bible reading I have begun to read daily devotionals from Jonathan Edwards and read the Puritan prayers found in The Valley of Vision Both of these resources are extremely edifying for your spiritual life (In addition, I've been reading Future Grace and God's Passion For His Glory by John Piper). I found this morning's devotional from Edwards and the prayer found in The Valley of Vision to be acutely poignant.

I've decided to share them with you. Here is Edwards:

And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,"and he was called God's friend (James 2:23).

We ought to treat God as a dear friend. We ought to act towards him as those that have a sincere love and unfeigned regard to him; and so ought to watch and be careful against all occasions of that which is contrary to his honor and glory. If we have not a temper and desire so to do, it will show that, whatever our pretenses are, we are not God's sincere friends, and have no true love to him. If we should be offended at any that have professed friendship to us, if they have treated us in this manner, and were no more careful of our interest; surely God may justly be offended, that we are no more careful of his glory.

Here is the prayer. It is entitled "The Precious Blood." I thought it fit well with Edwards's meditation above. *I'm taking out the KJV language and making it easier to read*

Blessed Lord Jesus, before your cross I kneel and see the heinousness of my sin, my iniquity that caused you to be "made a curse," and the evil that excites the severity of divine wrath. Show me the enormity of my guilt by the crown of thorns, the pierced hands and feet, the bruised body, and the dying cries. Your blood is the blood of incarnate God, its worth infinite, and its value beyond all thought. Infinite must be the evil and guilt that demands such a price. Sin is my malady, my monster, my foe, my viper. Its born in my birth, alive in my life, strong in my character, dominating my faculties, following me as a shadow, intermingling with my every thought, my chain that holds me captive in the empire of my soul. Sinner that I am, why should the sun give me light, the air supply my breath, the earth bear my tread, its fruits nourish me, its creatures subserve my ends? Yet your compassions yearn over me, your heart hastens to my rescue, your love endured my curse, your mercy bore my deserved stripes. Let me walk humbly in the lowest depths of humiliation, bathed in your blood, tender of conscience, and triumphing gloriously as an heir of salvation.

What a wonderful prayer.