The Deeps

Lord Jesus,
Give me a deeper repentance,
   a horror of sin,
   a dread of its approach;
Help me chastely to flee it,
   and jealously to resolve that my heart shall be Yours alone.
Give me a deeper trust,
   that I may lose myself to find myself in You,
      the ground of my rest, 
      the spring of my being.
Give me a deeper knowledge of You
   as Savior, Master, Lord, and King.
Give me deeper power in private prayer,
   more sweetness in Your Word,
   more steadfast grip on its truth.
Give me deeper holiness in speech, thought, action,
   and let me not seek moral virtue apart from You.
Plow deep in me, Great Lord, heavenly Gardener,
  that my being may be a tilled field,
   the roots of grace spreading far and wide,
      until You alone are seen in me,
      Your beauty golden like summer harvest,
      Your fruitfulness as autumn plenty.
I have no master but You,
   no law but Your will,
   no delight but Yourself,
   no wealth by that You give,
   no good but that you bless,
   no peace but that You provide.
I am nothing but what You make of me,
I have nothing but what I receive from You.
Quarry me deep, dear Lord,
   and then fill me to overflowing with living water.


(adapted from "The Deeps" in Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions, page 75)