VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH : Victory In Jesus ... With Prayer!

Belief - Obedience = Presumption

I Walked Into The House One Day
AND
I Was Saluted
By Guests
Sitting
Crowded
In My Big Comfy Chair!

They Were Guests Uninvited!
I Did Not Open My Door To Let Them Walk In
BUT
There They All Were
AND
Obviously Led
By That Fearless Wretch Self
AND
His Henchman 
Besetting Sin 
Dressed As A Cartoon Elf!

Besetting Sin
Self
Own-Way
Free-Will
AND
Choice
- As Workmen -
Had Cut Me
Squared Me About
AND
Often Chiseled Me
AND
I Had Had Me Quite Enough
Thank You, Very Much!

I Cried:
"Lord Jesus, Help Me!"
AND
Christian Resistance Walked In
Holding Hands With
Faith For Today
AND
Grace To Help ... 
MY. FULL. SHARE!

My Uninvited Guests
Grasped Hands!
Battle Formation
Being Their Stance
Ready
Willing 
AND
Seemingly Able
Their Diabolic Way To Advance!

BUT ...

The Living God
For Some Time Now
Had Gotten My Attention
AND
I Was Seeking To Become A Jewel
In The Kingdom Of Light
So I Knew
That Burnishing
AND
Polishing
Are Next Up
If I Am To Arrive Safe
In The Great Reward
AND
Not Left Outside
As A Useless Discard In The Night!

Dear Lord,

I Am Your Child!

I Refuse To Be A Bastard!

I Accept My Chastisements!

Please Keep Me Out Of The Kitchen Of The Fraud!

Father, I Accept That

Envy

Malice 

Covetousness

Evil Thinking

And

Evil Speaking

Must From My Character Be Culled!

So, Please

Help Me To Hold On

To My Beloved Jesus

For I Don't Want To Be A Workman Working

In The Vile Camp Of Satan 

Who Wants To Be Worshiped 

Like He Is The Eternal Holy True And One God!

Father, You Say

Who You Love

You Chastise

So I Humble Myself

For I Am Your Child!

Lead Me!

Guide Me!

Please Show Me How To Walk

Even Now As I Pray!

Pity Me!

Have Mercy Upon Me

For I Don't Want For My Own Sin

To Have To Ultimately Pay!

Lord, I Beseech You

To Make Me A Jewel

The One

That With Holy Blood

Innocent

You Sacrificed To Own!

Take Me, Dear Lord!

Make Me Yours

This Very Day

For

I Dare Not Walk By Myself 

All Alone!

I Opened My Eyes
- For I Heard The Noise Of Feet Walking -
In Time To See
My Not-Friends
Heading For The Door!
Then
I Looked To See
"Victory In Jesus!"
Spread Out
Like Lush Carpet
Covering
Windows Crack
Creases Crevices 
AND
The Closing Door!

I Again Bowed My Head
In Supplication
Over That Sin That Doth So Easily Besets
For I Know That Every Human
Has Got One
AND
It Must Be Conquered
If To Holy Heaven
We Expect To Get!

Constant Vigilance!
Constant Prayers!
Constant Communion With The Master!
Constant Reading
AND
Digging
Into The Holy Oracles
Of The Holy God
Are The Ways By Which
We Get Constant Victory
Over Those Things
That Would Rob Us Of The Joy
That Would Be Ours
IF
We From The Paths Of Peace Stray
Along Life's Way!

Lord,

Help Me To Lay Down

My Heavy Sin-Burden!

Help Me To Pick Up Your Yolk

For

You Say It Is Easy

And Your Heavenly Burden Light!

I Believe You!

I Love You!

I Trust You!

Be The Lord Of My Life!

Help Me, Dear Lord

My Cultivated Tendencies To Fight!

Crush My Hereditary Sins 

With The Truth That Is The Light!

Help Me To Fall On The Sword Of The Word

That I May Live Right In Your Sight!

Shield Me, Dear Father

For Dark Is Sight's Night!

Lift Me Up To Heaven

So That My Faith

Will Become A Glorious Sight

And

Seeing My Jesus

Will Indeed Be 

My Redeemed Soul's Delight!

Until The Day Dawns,  Dear Father

Let Contentment In Christ

Be My Corn

As The Wine Of Confused Babylon

I Daily Scorn!

Let The Holy Angels Guard And Guide!

Let The Holy Spirit In Me Abide!

Grant Unto Me Also

The Spirit's Sweet Fruits

And

Hide Me In Your Pavilion

So That I Cannot Become One 

Of Satan's Minions!

Father,

You, The Eternal One

 Are My God

And I

By Jesus Christ

Praise You!

Please Lead Me Home To The Great Reward!

AMEN.