The Only Prayer That Man Need Offer to the Father.


 

Our Father, who art in heaven, we recognize:

OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN HEAVEN, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THOU ART ALL HOLY AND LOVING AND MERCIFUL, AND THAT WE ARE THY CHILDREN, AND NOT THE SUBSERVIENT, SINFUL AND DEPRAVED CREATURES THAT OUR FALSE TEACHERS WOULD HAVE US BELIEVE. THAT WE ARE THE GREATEST OF THY CREATIONS, AND THE MOST WONDERFUL OF ALL THY HANDIWORKS, AND THE OBJECTS OF THY GREAT SOUL'S LOVE AND TENDEREST CARE.

THAT THY WILL IS THAT WE BECOME AT-ONE WITH THEE AND PARTAKE OF THY GREAT LOVE WHICH THOU HAST BESTOWED UPON US THROUGH THY MERCY AND DESIRE THAT WE BECOME, IN TRUTH, THY CHILDREN THROUGH LOVE, AND NOT THROUGH THE SACRIFICE AND DEATH OF ANY OF THY CREATURES.

WE PRAY THAT THOU WILL OPEN UP OUR SOULS TO THE INFLOWING OF THY LOVE, AND THAT THEN WILL COME THY HOLY SPIRIT TO BRING INTO OUR SOULS THIS, THY DIVINE LOVE, IN GREAT ABUNDANCE, UNTIL OUR SOULS SHALL BE TRANSFORMED INTO THE VERY ESSENCE OF THYSELF; AND THAT THERE WILL COME TO US FAITH—SUCH FAITH AS WILL CAUSE US TO REALIZE THAT WE ARE TRULY THY CHILDREN AND ONE WITH THEE IN VERY SUBSTANCE, AND NOT IN IMAGE ONLY.

LET US HAVE SUCH FAITH AS WILL CAUSE US TO KNOW THAT THOU ART OUR FATHER, AND THE BESTOWER OF EVERY GOOD AND PERFECT GIFT, AND THAT ONLY WE, OURSELVES, CAN PREVENT THY LOVE CHANGING US FROM THE MORTAL INTO THE IMMORTAL.

LET US NEVER CEASE TO REALIZE THAT THY LOVE IS WAITING FOR EACH AND ALL OF US, AND, THAT WHEN WE COME TO THEE IN FAITH AND EARNEST ASPIRATION, THY LOVE WILL NEVER BE WITHHOLDEN FROM US.

KEEP US IN THE SHADOW OF THY LOVE EVERY HOUR AND MOMENT OF OUR LIVES, AND HELP US TO OVERCOME ALL TEMPTATIONS OF THE FLESH, AND THE INFLUENCE OF THE POWERS OF THE EVIL ONES WHO SO CONSTANTLY SURROUND US AND ENDEAVOR TO TURN OUR THOUGHTS AWAY FROM THEE TO THE PLEASURES AND ALLUREMENTS OF THIS WORLD.

WE THANK THEE FOR THY LOVE AND THE PRIVILEGE OF RECEIVING IT, AND WE BELIEVE THAT THOU ART OUR FATHER—THE LOVING FATHER WHO SMILES UPON US IN OUR WEAKNESS, AND IS ALWAYS READY TO HELP US AND TAKE US TO THY ARMS OF LOVE.

WE PRAY THUS WITH ALL THE EARNESTNESS AND SINCERE LONGINGS OF OUR SOULS, AND, TRUSTING IN THY LOVE, GIVE THEE ALL THE GLORY AND HONOR AND LOVE THAT OUR FINITE SOULS CAN GIVE.
 

Amen.


 

About James E. Padgett