Lord of Mercy, Love and Strength,

All things are in Your hands. I bow at Your feet to praise You. I am nothing and You have no need of me but because of Your great love You move me in blessing. Me, a sinner, stained and always hiding from You. Me, a sinner, defiled by images and words and misdeeds, afraid to see You. Me, a stupid man, who fights battles and for ideas that may not actually be from You, that may be based on things untrue, though I may be convinced in my own mind. Me, who spins my wheels, who is deaf to Your Word, who talks loudly and convidently concerning You, but is ultimately put to shame.

Lord, will You receive me despite my shameful life? Will You use me despite myself? Will You forgive me for my presumption? Will You begin to move my stony heart to compassion? To prayer? To intercession? To victory? To usefulness? To Your Way? Will You restore me to Your abundant life? Will You accept a fast on behalf of those for whom I pray?

Or will I feel ashamed and part of the cause as my sister dies, as my wife whithers away, as my children become estranged, as my brother moves away and forgets me, as the church fails to help, as the cult of death gains power in our nation, as the kingdom of the antichrist and of terrorists is crowned for dominion? Will these things be my fault? Yes, they will be. Because I am so filled with myself that I fail to pray, to fast, to be pure, to glorify You, my King. Because I don't serve You as my Master. I am a slave to my appetite. Will You heal me, Lord of All things? Will You move me by Your Spirit?

Lord, I have thanked You for the thorns in my flesh because I know You have a plan for good. I know Who You Are with my mind. I ask though, that You become Master of my life. That You replace the demons of lust that have taken residence in me with the Love of Your Heavenly Kingdom, with Your Holy Spirit. Live in me, Lord. I know from these thorns that I need You, that Your Kingdom is not about me, but about You. I know that I might become proud if it were not for these thorns. And I don't underestimate my littleness, my propensity to be vane.

Lord, let me take up the sackcloth of repentance. Let me be dead to the world. Cover me in ashes. I want to be born again. Renew my mind and heart. I accept Your atoning blood. But I ask for the baptism of Your Holy Spirit, for a life that is 100% Spirit filled, and 0% old me. I ask for a life of victory in You. And I ask that if there is any other work to be done in me to stem my pride that You finish it quickly. I won't consider that I have arrived. One can never have enough of You. But I do ask for Your Power to be restored in my life, so that when I pray You do what I ask. And so when I worship I can see Your face.

It is time for fasting and prayer, Lord. A battle is raging that I can't win in my own power. I am easily knocked flat. And prayer as usual won't do. It hasn't worked. It is time to cling to You and do whatever it takes to see victory. It is time for vigils and fasts. It doesn't matter to me that Your Word prophesies concerning the kingdom of the antichrist, concerning the days of deception, concerning the red dragon's desire to kill the offspring of the woman, the church. I know all these things already have been and will continue to be. But You said not only would the eagle's wings protect your church, but even the earth would swallow up the devil's flood of lies. Even in the midst of the battle there is victory. And satan only sweeps away 1/3 of the stars. And only 1/3 of the earth is destroyed.

Help me in victory, Lord God. I ask the Mighty King for a touch, that I might serve, rather than be served. Move me, O King. Set my heart right, with right motives - motives that are pleasing to You, the motive of love for You and for Your creatures, especially souls. Selflessness is a gift that is beyond my habits, my Savior. I need regeneration. I need Your anointing. I need fresh oil, Heavenly King. You are the Balm. I am Gilead. Heal me. Raise me. Take me. Use me.

I thank You Saving King, that You will replace my vanity with gratitude and peace. You will bring my heart joy. You will set my feet to dancing in the knowledge that You have heard my prayers. My heart will shout Hosanna! I will exult as I exalt You. Thank You, Lord. You haven't abondoned me, though I have abandoned You. You receive my prayer, though I refuse Your Spirit. You will shine Light through me, though I have been shutting my eyes. You will heal me and grant me answers to these prayers because You know that I love You and need You. You know that I am desparate for You.

Lord God, I am not so senseless that I should fail to eat the good food of my Father, not when I've been in the wallow of pigs. You created me to have some flicker of genuine desire for You, or at least the need of that food. Even if there has never been a genuine flicker, You designed me with a Spirit shaped vacuum in my heart. I didn't choose You. You chose me. You first loved me, not I You. That vacuum in me thus asks to be filled not with the things of earth, but with You. Kindle in me the fire of Your love. You will light me on fire with Your love and I will rejoice in You, Good Savior. I won't be able to contain my tears as I consider Your love, power and beauty, as I read the Book of Life. Thank You, Father.