I came across this prayer (thanks, Missional Church Network)
Lord, I sometimes wander away from you. But this is not because I am deliberately turning my back on you. It is because of the inconstancy of my mind. I weaken in my intention to give my whole soul to you. I fall back into thinking of myself as my own master. But when I wander from you, my life becomes a burden, and within me I find nothing but darkness and wretchedness, fear and anxiety. So I come back to you, and confess that I have sinned against you. And I know you will forgive me.
- Aelred of Rievaulx (1110-1167)
Posted by Jim on November 5, 2009 at 11:44 pm
I like how this reflects the difference between ‘rebellion’ and ‘immaturity’. Too often we mistake our spiritual immaturity for rebellion. This isn’t meant to excuse our sin. Far from it. The importance comes in whether we run to God or from God when we encounter our own sin. Thanks for the quote.
Jim Hall
http://prayerjournal.ca/
http://www.fragrantincense.ca/