Heal me, make me whole at once,
Raise my eyes to righteousness,
And show me my full share of grace.
Upon the power in Jesus’ path,
Launch forward my small faith and hope,
To touch the needy with times of peace.
You must
I do not know the way, O Lord. You must show me.
I’m ignorant of your desires and pleasure. You must tell me.
I’ve no idea of how to live. You must guide me.
I lack the words to speak to others. You must give them to me.
I have no wisdom to succeed in life. You must enlighten me.
Power and Focus
In perfect measure, at pondered time,
You move and act and make from naught
Creations of your earnest heart.
My wandering thoughts need One direction,
Give power from heaven, point of focus,
And lasting fruit for lavish praise.
Righteousness Will Reign Supreme
Confused the mind when fixed upon earth,
And earthly things turn eyes from heaven.
I’d see, O Lord, your saints abide
In eternal homes, where titles are dead,
And Mammon has lost its mad control,
Where love is pure, and labor is sweet.
What joys must circle our jealous Lord!
What peace surrounds your powerful Head!
Your kingdom at last will come to all,
That day that evil’s cast down to hell,
And righteousness will reign supreme,
The sea no more, in justice’ calm.
God of all
God of all satisfaction, we don’t even know what we want. Let us find our true desire in you and the fulfillment of every need in your presence. Let our contentment be the guide to others who live in daily frustration.
God of all grace, thank you that your salvation has reached us. Use us so that this grace reaches all people. Continue reading “God of all”
Refusing to be defeated
No matter how much the wicked attack, I refuse, O Lord, to be defeated. You free me from plowers on my back who make their furrows long and deep and painful. Repulse them, shame them, wither them under your powerful gaze. Let blessing pass them by, for they oppose your will and seek to harm your cause. Let all your people sing and praise your powerful name. With you is victory, with you is justice, with you are righteous deeds and eternal life.
When Men Believe
The world’s in flux, and populations move,
People are up in arms, the nations rant,
With wealth comes discontent, diminished love —
The earth is full of God, but still men want.
The skies grow dark, the snowy mountains heave,
The planets hang suspended, stars wink out,
The sun conceals its face, and men believe
When Christ appears — before him flees all doubt.
We see, O God, of all these things the end,
Travail and pain, the anguished groanings stop,
All silence reigns, murmurings and moans suspend —
Preserve us, Lord, as we to eternity step.
Another Journey
We rise again, O Lord, to face
Another journey, another step,
Another day of friendly grace,
For waking joys till now asleep.
Our thanks, O God, for daily bread
And strength, for wisdom’s gentle light,
Midst trial and pain, for faithful aid
Upon the tempter’s fiery height.
My Savior, show me open doors
For Jesus Christ — let me not fear
To bravely leave the safer shores,
But dare, beyond horizons, steer.
Justin Imel on prayer
Justin shares a good deal on his blog about prayer, especially, for and by the disabled. His posts on the subject are worthy of careful reflection. Check out his prayer category here.
Received
What gifts received, the wealth of heaven
poured down! — and not for us alone,
but service in the Cross’s shadow.
What work received, to enter the Lord’s
eternal mission! — a world awaits
to hear the news of God’s salvation.
What Spirit received, for God himself
to abide in every heart! — Come, O Lord
in mine, prepare me and be present.