stoked by the faith of others

Everyone who trusts in Christ for salvation will struggle to maintain a constant, fiery faith even though he or she treasures Him as the highest good. This is the case because we are but dust (Ps. 103:14). We find ourselves in need of daily grace and mercy (Lam. 3:22-23). We have within us a war raging between the flesh and spirit (Gal. 5:17). While we confess our love and trust in Christ, we know that the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak (Mark 14:38).

It’s helpful to have the faith of other saints help stoke the oft-dwindling flame of our faith. They have gone before and have fought the good fight; they have finished the race; they have kept the faith. The following is a prayer penned by John Wesley that I pray will put words to your godly desires and throw kindling on your heart’s hearth.

O merciful God,
whatever You may deny me,
do not deny me this love.

Save me from the idolatry of loving the world,
or any of the things of the world.

Let me never love any creature
but for Your sake and in subordination to Your love.

Take full possession of my heart;
raise there Your throne
and command there as You do in heaven.

Being created by You, let me live to You;
being created for You,
let me ever act for Your glory;
being redeemed by You,
let me render to You what is Yours
and let my spirit ever cleave to You alone.

As you continue in your faith, may your prayer echo Wesley’s, and may you be able to say to Christ, “Take full possession of my heart.”