Quicken our poor, cold, lifeless souls!

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(James Smith, "The Evening Sacrifice; Or, A Help to Devotion" 1859)

"My soul cleaves unto the dust--quicken me according to Your Word!" Psalm 119:25

What powerful attractions the present world has! How prone we are . . .
  to sink down to its level,
  to become attached to its customs,
  and to cleave to its vanities!
Yet, at the best, it is but dust. There is nothing in the world to satisfy or suit an immortal mind.

Jesus died for us--to deliver us from this present evil world. The Holy Spirit urges us to rise above it, and offers us His divine and all-sufficient aid. He will not force, but only attract or draw. Alas! that we should . . .
  slight His intimations,
  disregard His exhortations,
  and grieve His loving heart!

We are not of the world--and yet how worldly we are! We are born from above--but yet how earthly we remain! Our souls go out after things that are carnal, drossy, dusty, contemptible--to the neglect of things that are spiritual, pure, holy, and invaluable.

Heavenly Father, we confess our folly, we deplore our ingratitude, we condemn our conduct. We feel weak and feeble when we attempt to burst our bonds, and mount upwards to Your throne. O quicken, quicken us! By the power of Your Holy Spirit, and by bringing home Your inspired Word--quicken our poor, cold, lifeless souls!
Have You not promised to be as the dew unto Your people, coming down graciously, gradually, and gently upon them--in order to revive their graces, quicken their devotions, and cause them to grow up into Christ? O come down upon our dry and thirsty souls as the dew--or fall like rain on tender grass, like gentle showers on young plants.

Quicken us--and so will we mount up to Your throne, and do Your righteous will. Quicken us--and so Jesus will be precious to us, and the work of the Lord will be pleasant to us.

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