“Humble my heart before thee, and replenish it with thy choicest gifts. As water rests not on barren hill summits, but flows down to fertilize lowest vales, so make me the lowest of the lowly, that my spiritual riches may exceedingly abound. When I leave duties undone, may condemning thought strip me of pride, deepen in me devotion to thy service, and quicken me to more watchful care. When I am tempted to think highly of myself, grant me to see the wily power of my spiritual enemy; Help me to stand with wary eye on the watchtower of faith, and to cling with determined grasp to my humble Lord; If I fall let me hide myself in my Redeemer’s righteousness, and when I escape, may I ascribe all deliverance to thy grace.”
Lenten Prayer for Humility from The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions (Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2003) as recounted in Journey to the Cross: Readings and Devotions for Lent by Kendal Haug & Will Walker (Austin: Providence, 2013) 49.
Lest pride strip us of any progress this Lent, let’s start this week together asking God to humble our hearts so that our service and care flow from the proper posture, devotion rooted and empowered by God’s grace.