Prayer to Cling to Jesus at Life’s End

O Jesus, dearest Saviour! I must leave this world: the harbingers of death continually increase in number, and announce in unmistakable accents that the end of my life is at hand! Therefore I turn to Thee alone, and say, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. O my Redeemer! Thou hast redeemed me from sin and from the power of the devil with Thy precious blood, and with Thy innocent sufferings and death. O let that blood now avail for me, that, justified by it, I may be able to stand before Thy judgment-seat. If Satan would accuse me, I will show him Thy bleeding wounds; if my sins would condemn me, I will grasp the ransom for my sins, Thy precious blood. In the agony of death I will cling to Thy all-sufficient merit. Thou art my Saviour: O save me, forgive my sins, bestow upon me Thy perfect righteousness, bring me to life eternal.

Thou, O Christ, art the life; therefore I shall not die though I cease to breathe; for I live in Thee, and Thou in me. And my life in Thee shall now become perfect: I shall live in Thy presence eternally, and neither things present nor things to come shall be able to separate me from Thee. Thou art the way; O lead me through the dark valley of death to eternal life. Thou art the truth, and hast hitherto fulfilled all Thy gracious promises to me; fulfill those also in which Thou sayest: “Where I am, there shall also my servant be;” and again, “And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me.” Take me now unto Thyself where Thou art. Lord, let Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word. Draw me unto Thee, to the full enjoyment of Thy heavenly blessings.

Lord, I call to mind how Thou didst die for me on the cross, how Thou didst shed Thy precious blood, how Thou didst give Thy life for me. O wash and cleanse me from all my sins with Thy precious blood. For the sake of Thy holy wounds let me obtain grace and mercy. Thou art the Lamb of God, who didst permit Thyself to be crucified for me. Through Thy blood I am reconciled to God. Thou art my High priest, who intercedest for me. Thou art the Mighty One, who helpest me; the Prince of Peace, who receivest me into the habitations of peace.

Jesus, I come to Thee; I take hold on Thee; I cling to Thee. I say: “I will leave my Jesus never! On the cross for me He died; Love shall draw me to Him ever. At His feet I will abide. Of my life the light forever, I will leave my Jesus never.” Yea, I will think of Jesus only. He shall be the Light and Salvation of my soul, the Strength of my Life, my Sun and Joy, my Desire and Aspiration, the object of my thinking and planning, and my All in All. Away, vain thoughts! I will delight myself in the contemplation of Christ’s merit and atonement. I will call to mind His holy wounds; I will comfort myself with the remembrance of His bitter sufferings for me. My last word shall be “Jesus,” and my last thought shall be “Jesus, Jesus.” Amen.