Your gracious keeping

(John MacDuff, "The Gates of Prayer")  LISTEN to audio!  Download audio

Anew I commend myself to Your gracious keeping this day.

Guide me by Your counsel,
guard me from temptation,
lead me in the everlasting way.

May every unloving thought, every unworthy aim and aspiration-give place to what is pure and unselfish and kind. May every idol that would usurp Your place be overthrown. May . . .
  no corrupt thought pollute my heart,
  no unworthy utterance defile my tongue,
  no unholy action stain my life.
Preserve me from the world's insinuating, seductive power-and from the treachery and deceitfulness of my own evil heart.

Whatever is my dominant sin:
  ease, or pleasure;
  pride, or passion;
  covetousness, or ambition;
enable me by the promised help of Your Spirit, to subdue it-nailing it to the Redeemer's cross.

Defend me from every snare and danger which may beset my path. Be . . .
  my Shield in prosperity,
  my Refuge in adversity,
  my Comforter in sorrow,
  my Light in darkness,
  my Hope in death,
  my Defender and Vindicator in judgment,
  my Joy and Portion through all eternity!