Devotion
Oh, love, how deep, how broad, how high,
beyond all thought and fantasy,
that God, the Son of God, should take
our mortal form for mortals' sake!
God sent no angel to our race,
of higher or of lower place,
but wore the robe of human frame,
in Christ our Lord to this world came.
For us baptized, for us he bore
his holy fast and hungered sore;
for us temptation sharp he knew;
for us the tempter overthrew.
For us he prayed; for us he taught;
for us his daily works he wrought,
by words and signs and actions thus
still seeking not himself, but us.
For us by wickedness betrayed,
for us, in crown of thorns arrayed,
he bore the shameful cross and death;
for us he gave his dying breath.
For us he rose from death again;
for us he went on high to reign;
for us he sent his Spirit here
to guide, to strengthen, and to cheer.
All glory to our Lord and God
for love so deep, so high, so broad;
the Trinity whom we adore
forever and forevermore.
Have you noticed that most of your praying is making requests of God? Certainly we're encouraged to "ask, and it shall be given you." Yes, our prayers do include praise and thanksgiving, but mostly, it's requesting. However, when we allow mystics like Thomas a Kempis to teach us, we discover their prayers primarily adore and praise God. I’m reminded of the old Bible camp song, "Turn your eyes upon Jesus; Look full in his wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace."
Today, I want to encourage you to memorize whole hymns and whole psalms of praise. It's not difficult because they just beg to be memorized! Then you'll have the words tucked securely in mind for those awake times in the night and for those silent pauses in the day. The words of others praising God will become your prayer and draw you close into God’s precious presence to comfort and bless.
Prayer
All glory to our Lord and God for love so deep, so high, so broad; The Trinity, whom we adore forever and forevermore. Amen.