Words From Long Ago

From the Puritan book of prayers, The Valley of Vision, I lend you the words of the prayer titled “The Servant In Battle”.  May Monday be kind to us all and, if it is not, may the never-ending kindness of God to us be more real than the unkindness of a passing day.

 
O LORD,

I bless thee that the issue of the battle between thyself and Satan

has never been uncertain,
and will end in victory.

Calvary broke the dragon’s head,

and I contend with a vanquished foe,
who with all his subtlety and strength
has already been overcome.

When I feel the serpent at my heel

may I remember him whose heel was bruised,
but who, when bruised, broke the devil’s head.

My soul with inward joy extols the mighty conqueror.

Heal me of any wounds received in the great conflict;

if I have gathered defilement,

if my faith has suffered damage,

if my hope is less than bright,

if my love is not fervent,

if some creature-comfort occupies my heart,

if my soul sinks under pressure of the fight.

O thou whose every promise is balm,

every touch is life,

draw near to thy weary warrior,
refresh me, that I may rise again to wage the strife,
and never tire until my enemy is trodden down.

Give me such fellowship with thee that I may defy Satan,

unbelief, the flesh, the world,
with delight that comes not from a creature,
and which a creature cannot mar.

Give me a draught of the eternal fountain

that lieth in thy immutable, everlasting love and decree.

Then shall my hand never weaken, my feet never stumble,

my sword never rest, my shield never rust,
my helmet never shatter, my breastplate never fall,

as my strength rests in the power of Thy might.