Only for Your Glory

800px-lucas_cranach_d-c384-_-_martin_luther2c_1528_28veste_coburg29_28cropped29Dearest Lord God,
give me your grace
so that I rightly understand your Word,
and more than that,
that I also do what it says.
O dearest Lord Jesus Christ,
if my study is not to your glory alone,
then do not let me understand
even the smallest letter.
Give me only as much understanding
as a poor sinner needs
for your glory. Amen.

Source: Martin Luther, translated for A Collection of Prayers from  Gebetbuch, enthaltend die sämtlichen Gebete und Seufzer Martin Luther’s, ….Evangelischer Bücher-Verein, 1866, #131.  [Die Gebete Luthers, #513]

This prayer seems to be a reflection on James 1:22.

Original in German:

Gieb, lieber Herr Gott, deine Gnade, daß ich dein Wort recht verstehe, und viel mehr, daß ich es auch thun möge. Siehe doch, allerliebster Herr Jesu Christe, sollte dies mein Studiren nicht zu deinen Ehren allein gereichen, so lasse mich lieber keinen Buchstaben verstehen, und gieb mir nur, so viel mir armen Sünder nutz ist zu deinen Ehren. Amen.

 

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pastorstratman

Lutheran pastor and musician serving St. Stephen's in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.

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