Be fervent in spirit, Romans 12:11. That thou hast a name, that thou livest, and art dead. Revelation 3:1; Revelation 3:16.
If thou canst not pray fervently, ask God the reason of it, humbly, and accuse thyself in every thing, and come quite empty, poor, and miserable, looking upon thyself at the same time as reconciled, just covered, spotless, accepted, and beloved through Christ. Thus boldly to lay hold on Christ, his Father and the Holy Spirit, as being thine with every thing, will certainly rouse thee up and make thee fervent again.
May the Lord teach me to practise this and keep me ever awake.
Long have I sat beneath the sound
Of thy salvation. Lord;
But still how weak my faith is found,
And knowledge of thy word!
How cold and feeble is my love!
How negligent my fear!
How long my hopes of joys above!
How few affections there!
My dear Almighty and my God,
How little art thou known
By all the judgments of thy rod.
And blessings of thy throne!
Great God! thy sovereign power impart.
To give thy word success.
Write thy salvation in my heart.
And make me learn thy grace.