On the morning of April the 18th in 1521 Martin Luther, a monk from Whittenberg,  prayed this prayer.  Luther had been called before an imperial diet in Worms, Germany to give testimony of his writings which were considered by the Roman Catholic Church to be heretical, an offense punishable by death unless the guilty party recanted his or her teachings.  This prayer is a reformers prayer.  Luther's passion for reformation should be the passion for every Christian.

"O Almighty and Everlasting God!  How terrible is this world!  Behold,  it openeth its mouth to swallow me up,  and I have so little trust in Thee!   . . .How weak is the flesh,  and powerful is Satan!  If it is in the strength of this world only that I must put my trust, all is over!. . . My last hour is come, my condemnation has been pronounced!. . . O God! O God!  do thou help me against all the wisdom of the world!. . .thou shouldest do this. . . thou alone. . . for this is not my work,  but Thine.  I have nothing to do here, nothing to contend for with these great ones of the world!  I should desire to see my days flow on peaceful and happy.  But the cause is Thine. . . and it is a righteous and eternal cause.  O Lord!  In no man do I place my trust.  It would be vain!  All that is of man is uncertain; all that cometh of man fails. . . O God!  my God,  hearest Thou me not?. . . My God, art Thou dead?. . . No!  Thou canst not die!  Thou hidest thyself only!  Thou hast chosen me for this work.  I know it well !. . . Act,  then,  O God. . . stand at my side, for the sake of thy well-beloved Jesus Christ,  who is my defence,  my shield and  my strong tower."  After a moment of silent struggle, Luther continues:  "Lord!  where stayest thou?. . .where art Thou?. . .Come! come!  I am ready!. . .I am ready to lay down my life for Thy truth. . . patient as a lamb.  For it is the cause of justice-it is thine!. . .I will never separate myself from Thee,  neither now nor through eternity!. . .And though the world should be filled with devils, though my body,  which is still the work of Thy hands,  should be slain,  be stretched upon the pavement,  be cut in pieces. . .reduced to ashes. . . my soul is Thine!        . . .Yes!  I have the assurance of Thy Word.  My soul belongs to Thee!  It shall abide forever with Thee. . . Amen!. . .O God! help me!. . .Amen!"

“Powerful is Satan” against the work of reforming the church.
“The cause is Thine” because God alone can reform His church.
“Thou hast chosen me for this work” because God always chooses the right instrument.
“I have the assurance of Thy Word” which is the basis for reformation.