Father in heaven, I need you to lead me.
Surely nothing is hidden from you.
You engineered the universe
With power and precision.
You are not a creature,
Constrained by time and space,
But you are rather the Maker,
On whom we all depend
For life, breath, and everything (Acts 17:25)
You, Father, know all things –
You who invented all our languages
Before there was a voice to speak,
Who created every flavor
Before there was a mouth to taste,
Who designed all music and melodies
Before there were ears to hear;
From the beginning until now,
All creation clearly testifies
To your eternal power and divine nature (Romans 1:20)
My credentials, by comparison, are nothing.
I lack power and perspective,
And affirm it is far better for You to lead me
Than for me to lead myself.
In beholding you, God,
I see your Fatherliness:
Your knowledge
Your wisdom
Your majesty
Your strength
Your authority
In beholding you, God,
I see my childishness:
My ignorance
My folly
My narcissism
My weakness
My dependence
I cannot bring myself to green pastures,
Or lead myself beside still waters,
For my passions and instincts are ill-informed
I lead myself into fearful fretting
Rather than freedom;
I lead myself into jealous rivalry
Rather than joyful reconciliation
I lead myself into self-centered ambition
Rather than service to others and adoration of You.
All we like sheep, have gone astray
We have turned – every one – to his own way (Isaiah 53:6)
I need a good shepherd
To seek me in my lostness (Luke 15:3-7),
To hold me in his hand (John 10:27-29),
And to crown me with real glory (1 Peter 5:5).
Your leadership is far better than my own,
So I praise you, for you are willing to guide me,
And I pledge to you, that I am willing to follow.
From your timeless Word
All-sufficient, authoritative, and inerrant
Please teach me what is right,
Reprove me when I’m wrong,
Correct my misaligned desires,
And train me to yearn for righteousness
For by your word, I’m made complete,
And am ready for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Lord, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life (John 6:68).
I ask for your kingdom to come and will to be done
On earth, in me, as it is in heaven.
And I join my voice with the chorus of many saints:
Lead on, O King Eternal!
Have thine own way, Lord;
Guide me, O thou great Jehovah –
I need thee every hour
What a friend we have in Jesus!
He leadeth me! O blessed thought;
Jesus, keep me near the cross.
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die.
Lead me out of my depraved desires.
Lead me to Christ.
Lead me safely
Through the temptations of prosperity
And through the trials of persecution.
Lead me all my life long –
Lead me even through death’s dark valley
Into rescue,
Into resurrection,
And into rejoicing.
And lead me home,
Where I will nevermore be lost in my sin-sick heart,
But will evermore be led by your steady hand (Psalm 73:23-24)
AMEN.
