John Newton's prayer and mine

John Newton’s (1725-1807) words may be 200+ years old but they speak so beautifully and powerfully into our current situation. This is my prayer for myself and you my dear friends.

“I wish we may learn from all our changes, to be sober and watchful, not to rest in grace received, in experience or comforts, but still to be pressing forward, and never think ourselves either safe or happy, but when we are beholding the glory of Christ by the light of faith in the glass of the Gospel, to view him as God manifest in the flesh, as all in all in himself, and all in all for us; this cheering, this strengthening, this makes hard things easy, and better things sweet. This includes all I can wish for my dear friends, that you may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of Jesus. To know him, is the shortest description of true grace; to know him better, is the surest mark of growth in grace; to know him perfectly, is eternal life. This is the prize of our high calling; the sum and substance of all we can desire or hope for is, to see him as he is, and to be like him: and to this honor and happiness he will surely bring all that love his name.”