O Lord,
Whose power is infinite and wisdom
infallible,
Order things that they may
neither hinder,
nor discourage me,
nor prove obstacles to the progress of thy cause;
Stand between me and
all strife, that no evil befall,
no sin corrupt my
gifts, zeal, attainments;
May I follow duty
and not any foolish device
of my own;
Permit me not to
labour at work which thou wilt
not bless,
that I may serve thee without
disgrace or debt;
Let me dwell in thy
most secret place under thy
shadow,
where is safe impenetrable
protection from
the arrow that flieth
by day,
the pestilence that
walketh in darkness,
the strife of
tongues,
the malice of
ill-will,
the hurt of unkind
talk,
the snares of
company,
the perils of youth,
the temptations of
middle life,
the mournings of old
age,
the fear of death.
I am entirely
dependent upon thee for support,
counsel, consolation.
Uphold me by thy
free Spirit,
and may I not think it enough to
be preserved
from falling,
but may I always go forward,
always abounding
in the work thou
givest me to do.
Strengthen me by thy
Spirit in my inner self
for every purpose of my Christian
life.
All my jewels I give
to the shadow of the safety
that is in thee
–
my name anew in Christ,
my body, soul, talents,
character,
my success, wife, children,
friends, work,
my present, my future, my end.
Take them, they are
thine, and I am thine,
now and for ever.