Dear Father (A Prayer For Cleansing) Poem by Bruce Johnson

Dear Father, no pretenses
can hide our hearts from you:
You know all our offenses
and what we fail to do.
If you should count transgressions,
O Lord, who then could stand?
But with you is compassion,
and grace is in your hand.

We praise you, precious Savior,
for what your love has wrought:
You gained for us God's favor;
your blood our cleansing bought.
Now cleanse our hearts completely;
remove our sin-ward bent.
Teach us to love you deeply,
and deeply to repent!

Blest Spirit, sent by Jesus,
be with us to the end-
In God's good ways to lead us;
from evil to defend.
Each day make us more holy,
more filled with truth and grace,
Till, shining with Christ's glory,
we see him face to face!