Michael E. Wood
August 25, 2015
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows
favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk
uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed
is the one who trusts in you! Psalm
84:11-12
“Temporal mercies are chiefly to be desired for the sake of
spiritual, but spiritual mercies for themselves, and not for temporal
advantages….. Temporal mercies are chiefly to be desired for the sake of
spiritual blessings, and not their own…. The Christian, when praying for temporal
things, should desire them for helps in his way and passage to heaven. I do not say it is unlawful to desire life,
health, and other comforts of this life, for the suitableness that these have
to our natural affections, and to supply our outward necessities; but to desire
them only for this is low and base, it is the mere cry of the creature.” William Gurnall, The Christian in Complete
Armour, Volume 2, p.428
The preceding quote may seem out of place in relation to the
following prayer, as the heart of this poetic prayer is toward God Himself. Yet, from past experience as well being in
the process of growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ, it seems that we by nature can easily fall into expecting
temporal blessings as a result of our pursuit of knowing God. Yes, He promises to
His children that no good thing will He withhold from those that walk uprightly,
but we all have need to allow and accept from Him what He defines as good, as
He is our chief Good.
Fill mine eyes with Thine own glory
Through Thy Word, O Help me see
More of You for Thine own pleasure;
Draw me by Thy Spirit’s plea.
Not for comfort or for temporal
Gains that profit not, or last:
In beholding more Thy beauty
Of Your image, darkly cast;
Help me run the race with patience,
Joyfully, till home with You,
With Your splendor thus transcending
All redeemed in every hue.
