A Birthday Soliloquy

“Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not His anger for ever, because He delighteth in mercy.” –Micah 7:18

I will love Thee, O Lord, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and my cup: Thou maintain my lot.

I rejoice with trembling, because surely I see that the Lord is with me. I am full of joy, because I perceive the hand of God upon me, working in me both the willing and the doing. I am so glad I heard the Saviour’s call and even though I am an erring child of God, yet I feel this grand and glorious feeling in my bosom again and again, a sure token that I am still Yours and that You are mine.

Since the dawn of that glorious Monday morning, when You called me by my name, my song in this land of my pilgrimage has been grace and grace alone. You called me by grace, to grace, for grace and You have been leading me with grace.

“Did not the Spirit of grace knock at my door with infinite holy motions, before I condescended to open? I refused to obey, until You called, not a third time, as to Samuel, but many a thousand times. As Lot was loath to depart out of Sodom, till the angels laid hold upon his hand, and brought him forth; so I was loath to leave my sins, and sinful companions, till the hand of the Lord laid hold upon mine heart. God's arbitrary and free grace called me and left my other sinful companions in their sin. Oh, how should this make me to admire Your love and to strive for Your holiness.” (Paraphrased from Andrew Gray’s sermon)

Lord, never once did I have any cause to regret my journey with You. Thank You for the Word, which is my sword. Thank You for the many helps, both called for and un-called for, that You’ve granted me. Thank You for the overall progress in my life. Thank You for the Puritans and Reformed Fathers. Thank You for their writings. Thank You for the Methodists and the Baptists. Thank You for the Apostolic Faith Church. Thank You for the saints that I’ve been privileged to work with. Thank You for the science and technology in my life.

Let me live, O Lord, and not die until I have shown Thy strength to this generation and the generations following. Make me a balm in Gilead, a blessing to the spiritually wretched and poor. Make me a strong voice for You here below and never allow the enemy to spoil my testimony. Lead me on to the Land of Rest and never leave me until You’ve brought me safely to Heaven and present me to Your Father as a glorious saint, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.  Make me a pillar in Your home above.

O God Almighty, the Father of Light in whom there is no darkness or shadow of turning, see me through my journey. Keep me, O keep me from sin!

"I am tempted to think that I am now an established Christian,--that I have overcome this or that lust so long,--that I have got into the habit of the opposite grace,--so that there is no fear; I may venture very near the temptation--nearer than other men. This is a lie of Satan. As long as the Spirit dwells in my heart, He deadens me to sin, so that, if lawfully called through temptation, I may reckon upon God carrying me through. But when the Spirit leaves me, I am like dry gunpowder [ready to explode]" (Robert McCheyne)

Therefore, Lord, always be by my side and never leave me for any second. Grant me re-sounding victory over sin and Satan throughout the remainder of my life.

“According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.” -Philippians 1:20