Eleanor,<br><blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"]In fact, I think increasingly that I have a problem with anger and discontent. God has pricked my conscience through 2 Corinthians 1:12. Repentance is a messy process of losing the road, finding oneself in mud, finding a way to slog out, and then trying to remember which way the road was going, all with one's shoes filled and crusted with the earth's muck..</font><hr></blockquote><p><br>This hymn is quoted in Packer's book Knowing God in the chapter These Inward Trials. The words are by John Newton. Yes, we are prone to sin, but we know who we can to go to for strength in our weaknesses and we know where where we can go to be made clean again. [img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/smile.gif" alt="smile" title="smile[/img]<br>Susan<br><br><center>I asked the Lord that I might grow<br>In faith, and love, and every grace;<br>Might more of His salvation know,<br>And seek, more earnestly, His face.<br><br>’Twas He who taught me thus to pray,<br>And He, I trust, has answered prayer!<br>But it has been in such a way,<br>As almost drove me to despair.<br><br>I hoped that in some favored hour,<br>At once He’d answer my request;<br>And by His love’s constraining pow’r,<br>Subdue my sins, and give me rest.<br><br>Instead of this, He made me feel<br>The hidden evils of my heart;<br>And let the angry pow’rs of hell<br>Assault my soul in every part.<br><br>Yea more, with His own hand He seemed<br>Intent to aggravate my woe;<br>Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,<br>Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.<br><br>Lord, why is this, I trembling cried,<br>Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death?<br>“’Tis in this way, the Lord replied,<br>I answer prayer for grace and faith.<br><br>These inward trials I employ,<br>From self, and pride, to set thee free;<br>And break thy schemes of earthly joy,<br>That thou may’st find thy all in Me.”</center><br><br><br><br><br>
