Calvin's Prayer

I'm very blessed to be editing a book of Calvin's prayers, taken from his commentaries. Before each lecture on a particular passage, he would offer up a prayer that in some way related to that passage. This beautiful prayer was the last one that I worked on before going home yesterday:



"Grant, Almighty God, that as Thy church at this day is oppressed with many evils, we may learn to raise up not only our eyes and our hands to Thee, but also our hearts, and that we may so fix our attention on Thee as to look for salvation from Thee alone; and that though despair may overwhelm us on earth, yet the hope of Thy goodness may ever shine on us from heaven, and that, relying on the Mediator whom Thou hast given us, we may not hesitate to cry continually to Thee, until we really find by experience that our prayers have not been in vain, when Thou, pitying Thy church, hast extended Thy hand and given us cause to rejoice, and hast turned our mourning into joy, through Christ our Lord. Amen."

I've been feeling like my prayers for the church have been in vain lately, and Brother Calvin has encouraged my heart with this reminder.Thankfully my feelings do not determine what God hears or how he responds.

By the way, this book will be available, Lord willing, for Reformation Day from Reformation Heritage Books.Watch for it!