For well over a year Willem Teellinck’s The Path of True Godliness sat patiently on my shelf waiting to be read. Earlier this week Teellinck’s treatise finally got the nod and so far the book is outstanding.

In his introduction to Teellinck’s life and ministry Joel Beeke writes, “People were drawn to his ministry by his sincere conversation and preaching, faithful visiting and catechizing, godly walk and selfless demeanor, and simple practical writings. He demonstrated the conviction that a pastor ought to be the godliest person in the congregation.” That final sentence resonates with me:

“The pastor ought to be the godliest person in the congregation.”

HOLY ASPIRATION

I don’t worry so much about whether or not the pastor is the godliest person in the congregation, but if he aspires and strives for supreme holiness in all things. As M’Cheyne famously said, “A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hands of the Lord.” I so desperately want to be an sharp sword or pointed arrow with which God assaults his vaunted foes fortress of darkness.

An ordinary overflow of that aspiration should be a life of prayerful pleading for God to increase one’s holiness. I am therefore always on the lookout for anything that provides new and specific fervor to my prayers for holiness. Teellinck’s book has already given me a plethora of new points in my prayers for godliness.

In “Book 1” he gives fourteen aspects of godliness’ true character. Simple, yet profound, these point were great encouragements to me, so I ended up personalizing them into items of prayer. Maybe they will be of help for your ministry and life of prayer.

PRAYING FOR GODLINESS

1. Help me to increasingly believe in You and Your Son; to fear You, love You, and cling to You.
2. Compel me to pray persistently, read Your Word diligently, to meditate on it, to keep it in my heart, to speak about it, and to glorify You and praise You in song.
3. Make me meek and patient in everything You have me do.
4. Let me remember and keep your holy day of rest.
5. May I love the regular assembling of Your church.
6. Give me a heart for the concerns and causes of Your people.
7. Let my heart be one of humility, one that mourns for not only my own sins but also for those of the nation and to rejoice greatly we Your Spirit moves in powerful progress.
8. Guide me to show love to my neighbors, to support the needy, visit the sick and prisoners.
9. May I not return evil for evil, but do good to those who cause me grief and bless those who curse me.
10. Make me humble, modest, pure, wise, and sincere in all manner of life.
11. Help me be diligent, prudent, and upright in the pursuit of my calling.
12. May my words be seasoned with salt, ones that defend the innocent, and may I always shame and despise an evil tongue.
13. Fill my heart with many holy desires, give me hunger and thirst for righteousness, and long for the Spirit’s gifts.
14. In short, may I practice “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, [help me] think about these things.”