I enjoy a good pre-written prayer. In some circles pre-written prayers are given a bad rap. They are thought to be to liturgical, or boring, or not from the heart. I believe though that pre-written prayers can bring about a sense of preparedness before the Lord. I believe putting careful thought to our words and the selection of them can be particularly glorifying to our Father. Now, seeing as to how we are messy sinners and our Father is ready to hear us at any time, spontaneous prayers are good as well, if not better. But again, I enjoy a good pre-written prayer. I particularly enjoy Puritan Prayers. I'm including one here from the "Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions."

 Every morning and evening for the last week I have read this prayer as a way to remind myself of my position in Christ, my depraved state and God's greatness. I hope to memorize it and I hope it's encouraging to you.

Yet I Sin
Eternal Father, Thou art good beyond all thought,
But I am vile, wretched, miserable, blind;
My lips are ready to confess, but my heart is slow to feel,
and my ways reluctant to amend.
I bring my soul to thee;
break it, wound it, bend it, mould it.
Unmask to me sin's deformity,
that I may hate it, abhor it, flee from it.
My faculties have been a weapon of revolt against thee;
as a rebel I have misused my strength,
and served the foul adversary of they kingdom.
Give me grace to bewail my insensate folly,
Grant me to know that the way of transgression is hard,
that evil paths are wretched paths,
that to depart from thee is to lose all good.
I have seen the purity and beauty of thy perfect law,
the happiness of those in whose heart it reigns,
the calm dignity of the walk to which it calls,
yet I daily violate and contemn its precepts.
Thy loving Spirit strives within me, brings me Scripture warnings,
speaks in startling providences, allures by secret whispers,
yet I choose devices and desires of my own hurt,
impiously resent, grieve,
and provoke him to abandon me.
All these sins I mourn, lament, and for them cry pardon.
Work in me profound and abiding repentance;
Give me the fullness of a godly grief that trembles and fears, yet ever trusts and loves,
which is ever powerful, and ever confident;
Grant that through the tears of repentance I may see more clearly
the brightness and glories of the saving cross.