Prayers of Consecration

A PRAYER OF SURRENDER

Who am I, Lord, that I should make any claim on you, or have any part or portion in you, when I am not worthy to lick the dust of your feet?

But since you hold out your mercy to me, and you bid me come, I would be undone to rebel against you in false humility.

So I bow my soul to you. With all possible thankfulness I accept you as my own, and I give myself up to you, my King. You will be sovereign over me, my King and my God. You will be on the throne, and I bow all my strength to you. I will come and worship before your feet. You will be my portion, Lord, and I will rest in you.

You called for my heart. Oh that it were in any way fit for your acceptance! I am unworthy, Lord, everlastingly unworthy to be yours. But since you will have it so, I freely give up my heart to you. Take it; it is yours. Oh that it were better! But Lord, I put it into your hand, who alone can mend it. Mold it after your own heart. Make it as you would have it—humble, heavenly, soft, tender, and flexible. Write your law on it.

Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Enter in triumphantly. Take me up to you forever. I give myself up to you. I come to you as the only way to the Father, as the only Mediator, the means God ordained to bring me to God.

I have destroyed myself, but in you is my help. Save, Lord, or I perish. I come to you with a rope about my neck.

I am worthy to die, and to be damned. Never was the wage more due to the worker than death and hell are due to me.

But I fly to your merits. I trust alone the value and virtue of your sacrifice, knowing that you will always intercede for me.

I submit to your teaching, I choose your government over me. Stand open, everlasting doors, that the King of Glory may come in! Amen.

—Joseph Alleine


YOUR WILL BE DONE

Now speak, Lord, and I will hear. Now call, Lord, and I will answer. Now command me, impose on me what you will, and I will submit.

None but the Lord, none but Christ, no other lord nor lover. I am yours, Lord, your own.

Do with your own, demand of your own, whatever you please.

What will you have me be, Lord, what will you have me do? That is what I will do and be.

No longer what I will, but your will be done. Amen.

—Richard Alleine


I GIVE YOU MYSELF

Spirit of the Most High, the Comforter and Sanctifier of your chosen, come now with all your glory, all your courtly attendants, your fruits and graces.

Let me be the place you live. I give you what is yours already. Here, with the poor widow, I cast my two pennies—my soul and my body—into your treasury. I fully resign them to you, to be sanctified by you, to be your servants.

They will be your patients; cure their disease. They will be your agents; govern every step. I have served the world too long, and I have listened to Satan too long. But now I renounce them all. Now I will be ruled by your dictates and directions, and guided by your counsel.

Blessed Trinity! Glorious unity! I deliver up myself to you. Receive me, write your name on me, and on everything I have. Set your mark on me, on every member of my body, and every part of my soul.

I have chosen your ways and your law. Now I will keep it in my view. By your grace, I resolve to walk in your way. I will be governed by your law. And though I cannot perfectly keep one of your commandments, I will not allow myself to disobey any.

I know my flesh will hang back. But in the power of your grace, I resolve to cleave to you and your holy ways—whatever the cost.

With you I am sure I will never lose. So I will be content with disapproval, difficulties, and hardships. I will deny myself, take up my cross, and follow you.

Lord Jesus, your yoke is easy and your cross is welcome, since it is the way to you. I lay aside all hopes of worldly happiness. I will be content to wait, and come to you. Let me be poor and low, little and despised here—so I may live and reign with you hereafter.

Lord, you have my heart in this agreement, never to be reversed. By grace I will stand in this resolution, where I will live and die. I have sworn that I will keep your righteous judgments. I have freely made my everlasting choice.

Lord Jesus, confirm the contract. Amen.