Rob Des Cotes

Covenant Prayer (Methodist prayer)

I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low by thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things
to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit,
Thou art mine and I am thine. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
Let it be ratified in heaven. Amen

Take Lord and Receive

Take Lord, and receive all my liberty,
My memory, my understanding,
And my entire will, all that I have and possess.
Thou hast given all to me.
To thee, O Lord, I return it.
All is Thine, dispose of it wholly according to thy will.
Give me thy love and thy grace, for this is sufficient for me.

Words to God, from the depth of my heart
St. Gregory of Narek

There was a time when I did not exist
Yet thou hast created me;
I did not beseech thee for a wish
Yet thou hast fulfilled it;
I did not come into the light
Yet thou hast seen me;
I had not yet appeared
And thou hast taken pity on me;
I had not invoked thee
Yet thou hast taken care of me;
I did not raise my head
Yet thou hast looked at me;
I had not entreated thee
Yet thou wast merciful to me;
I had not uttered a sound
Yet thou hast heard me;
I had not groaned
Yet thou has lent an ear.
With eyes that knew the future, thou sawest
The crimes of my guilty self
And yet thou hast fashioned me;

And now, I who have been created by thee
And saved by thee
Are also being tended with such care,
By thee, My Lord,
Who art behind me
And also before me.

Spare Me
St. Gregory of Narek

Spare me that I may not
labor without birth,
sigh without tears,
meditate without voice,
cloud without rain,
struggle without reaching,
call without being heard,
implore without being heeded,
groan without being comforted,
beg without being helped,
smolder without aroma,
see you without being fulfilled.