Luther’s Sacristy Prayer
Lord God, You have appointed me as a pastor in Your Church, but you see how unsuited I am to meet so great and difficult a task. If I had lacked Your help, I would have ruined everything long ago. Therefore, I call upon You: I wish to devote my mouth and my heart to you; I shall teach the people. I myself will learn and ponder diligently upon You Word. Use me as Your instrument -- but do not forsake me, for if ever I should be on my own, I would easily wreck it all.
This text was translated in 1999 for Project Wittenberg
by James Kellerman
Thank you for sharing this prayer. Before I begin the task of writing my sermon each week I pray a version of this prayer by praying, "...I am not a good preacher, speaker or writer; and if this were left up to me I would surely bring it all to ruin...".
ReplyDeleteI used to have this posted in the sacristy at my other churches. I keep meaning to put it up here, maybe I'll get to it this week.
ReplyDeleteThat is beautiful. I had not previously seen that. Peace.
ReplyDeleteThat is beautiful! I'll be tacking that up in my office on Sunday morning.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog!
I am, among other things, a retired Army Chaplain, & have made Brother Martin's Sacristy Prayer part of my "morning ritual" along with a stiff cup of coffee...because I know how fine a line we tred between being a "little Christ" to our sisters & brothers & "wrecking it all!"
ReplyDeletePastor Richard L Eilers Holley NY