Prayer for a Holy Heart and Life

O Holy Spirit, I tremble when I hear Thy words: “Ye shall be holy; for I am holy;” and again, that “without holiness no man shall see the Lord.” When I reflect upon these words, and compare them with my unholy heart, my unholy thoughts, my unholy words, my unholy deeds, I am often filled with dismay. I am ashamed of my unbecoming and unholy life. For, alas. I have followed the promptings of my heart and the customs of the world, and have grieved Thee by sinful words and deeds. O. if none shall see Thy face but those who are holy, how few shall be saved, how many shall he condemned! Help. Lord: for the godly man ceaseth!

Thou holy God, enlighten me, that I may henceforth follow after holiness of heart and life. O Jesus, make me righteous through Thy righteousness, through Thy merit and blood. O give to me, who am by nature unholy, Thy righteousness, that, clothed with it as with a beauteous robe, I may appear and stand before Thy heavenly Father. Sanctify my life through Thy holy Word. Sanctify my heart, that it may always be occupied with good thoughts. Sanctify my lips, that they may not speak what is unbecoming, unchristian, and wicked. Sanctify my will, that I may desire and do only what is pleasing to Thee. holy God! Draw me away from the world, and unite me with Thee, so that I may have within me the witness of Thy Holy Spirit that I have been born again as Thy child, and enjoy Thy favor.

But let this sanctification be genuine. Let me not, for example, be holy and seek holiness only in church, or at the Lord’s Table, or when I am engaged in holy offices, but be holy and strive after holiness at all times, at all places, and under all circumstances, even when I must live in the society of the children of this world. Let me, at such times also, speak, live, and act as a child of God, and continue to do so until death, when Thou wilt receive me into the company of the sanctified and elect in eternal light above. Amen.