Let then thy soul by faith be exercised with such thoughts and apprehensions as these: “I am a poor, weak creature, unstable as water. I cannot excel. This corruption is too hard for me and is at the very door of ruining my soul. What to do I know not. My soul is become as parched ground and an habitation of dragons. I have made promises and broken them; vows and engagements have been as a thing of naught. Many persuasions have I had that I had gotten the victory and should be delivered. But I am deceived, so that I plainly see that without some eminent succor and assistance, I am lost and shall be prevailed on to an utter relinquishment of God. Yet though this be my state and condition, let the hands that hang down be lifted up and the feeble knees be strengthened. Behold, the Lord Christ that hath all fullness of grace in His heart, all fullness of power in His hand, is able to slay all these His enemies. There is sufficient provision in Him for my relief and assistance. He can take my drooping, dying soul and make me more than a conqueror…He can make the dry, parched ground of my soul to become a pool and my thirsty, barren heart as springs of water. Yea, He can make this habitation of dragons, this heart, so full of abominable lusts and fiery temptations, to be a place for grass and fruit to Himself (Isa 35:7).

~ John Owen