For those who don't know or who may have forgotten,
John Wesley was the leader of the early Methodist movement, an Anglican priest, and a practical theologian. He and his brother Charles (also an Anglican priest who is most remembered for writing hymns like "O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing") gave shape to the theological emphases which live on in Methodism to this day. The following is one of many prayers which John Wesley wrote for use in personal devotional time.
Grant, O Lord,
that I may look for nothing,
claim nothing,
and resent nothing;
that I may go through all the scenes of life,
not seeking my own glory,
but looking wholly unto Thee
and acting wholly for Thee.
I invite you to contemplate on Wesley's prayer and consider how God might be calling you to renewed humility so that the light of Jesus Christ might shine through you like a beacon shinning through a storm.
Grace and peace,
John
Wow. I had never read this prayer before. How would that change the church today, if none of us "looked for anything," and if we "claimed nothing, and resented nothing?" I think I need to find a book of Wesley's prayers.
ReplyDeleteThis is the only other one I have ever read (from the front of the hymnal):
I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
thou art mine, and I am thine.
So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven.
Amen.