The good news of Christ
Pour out your blessing, Lord of light,
Lord of sight, Lord of sound,
Pour out your Spirit, full of might,
Full of power where gifts abound.
Pour out this soul, a life to give,
A life to live, a life to serve;
Pour out your servant, his work receive,
A sacrifice without reserve.
Pour out, O God, upon this earth,
The word to save, the word of love;
Bring forth for many a spiritual birth,
That all to heaven might soon remove.
Above, from heaven, look down upon us, O God,
We would not do the worldly things we did,
Alone we cannot win against the flesh,
Give power to put our weakness to the lash.
Build up the will to please our risen Lord,
And every mean and base desire discard,
A holy spirit worthy of heaven’s glory,
For this, O Father, we are in a hurry!
Lord God, but I don’t want to! I want what I want, because I want it. Why surrender who I am? Do my desires not define me?! Why lose myself to another?
Besides, I know what’s good and right for me. And I have to love myself and watch out for myself, because nobody else is going to.
I can butt heads with the best of them. I know how to stand my ground. I have the best arguments.
But it’s tiring. And scary. And lonely.
Lord, help me. I admit, it’s hard to go it alone. Everybody is a potential enemy or at least an opponent to be beaten.
I can’t imagine giving up control. Letting you guide. Depending on your wisdom. Where in the world will that lead? And what if I don’t like it when I get there?
I know I’m living a fantasy. At some point, the bubble will burst. Things will escape my control. My argument will fail. My stubbornness will destroy me.
O God, I give up! I surrender! Yes, I submit to your will. Bring me peace, and joy, and love. Take it all, sweep away my shabbily built life, the shambles I have made of it.
Thank you for the promise of hope. Finally, I have something to look forward to. Finally, I can rest.
Father, in those moments when stubbornness rears its head and tries to yank the reins away, bring me back to safety.
Another day alive
Awake for purpose
Aware of heart and mind
Deciding, planning, doing
Desiring glory’s touch
Reaching beyond my radius
Humble eyes to ground
Awaiting heaven’s word
Ears attuned to trumpets
Lord Jesus, come — save!
A prayer of thanks, beside your loving Word,
Beside your saving works of power, O God,
Is little enough, though from a thankful heart —
In all our need, your mercy stands apart.
What grace received, in Christ, and every gift,
What spiritual change, what holy Spirit to lift
Our souls from dark and weary bondage — Lord!
By every man and woman let Christ be heard!
Fling out the sons of faith, that all may hear
The blessed News of grace, and come to fear
Your Name. Let countless prayers of thanks abound!
Let angels sing with joy, the lost are found!
Fling out across the islands, waters, and lands,
And if themselves refuse to cross the sands
And seas to reach the unsaved — O Lord, then raise
A holy nation, a people who follow your ways!
Make me, O Lord, a man of God complete,
Help me today the prince of death defeat!
Rouse up the righteous powers of early morn,
In this frail heart lift high your mighty horn.
Come near to me your word, that I might hear,
To obey your precious law and tremble in fear.
May perfect love as yours with sun and rain,
Shower down upon my fellow man, constrain
The carnal mind with Christ, and every thought
Take captive! For pardon, flowing blood has sought,
Before the world began, a soul to redeem,
A perishing life to dip in a cleansing stream.
Make me, O God, for life, be unafraid,
A pure and useful vessel with power to persuade.
Father of many children, hear us,
Prayers beseeching you come near us;
God of time and space and matter,
Make your enemies fall and scatter!
Sovereign Lord, attend our pleading,
We would see your cause succeeding;
Use us for your glory and honor,
Perfect love our highest banner.
Man cannot predict the weather,
Tools, models, and knowledge limited;
Life is but the lightest feather,
Sight can focus but vaguest images.
Air, sun, food, and water,
None of these by man created;
Grow the seasons colder or hotter,
Man to wait the winter is fated.
God o’er all! We sing your praises!
Sovereign, holding power and wisdom!
We, in our uncertain phases,
Bow to enter the eternal Kingdom!
Beloved Lord and God who saves,
Jesus’ blood’s our only claim —
We cannot purify ourselves,
We run to bless his holy Name.
Draw near to you, our greater goal,
To hear the words, “Well done, my child!”
We seek you with our life and soul,
In Christ redeemed and reconciled.
Your powerful presence, nothing more,
Is all our aim and pure desire;
To enter in at heaven’s door,
To feel the Holy Spirit’s fire.
Your strength to put away all sin,
We need the gospel’s sure defense —
Let suffering in the Lord begin!
The battle for the prize commence!
Food and drink and work and rest,
And love, above all, for family and friends;
With gifts like these we’re richly blessed —
O Lord, upon you our life depends.
More than all this world’s desires,
And more than bodily comfort and peace —
Earthly existence which soon expires —
Is perfect life that does not cease.
Let nothing here weigh more to me
Than knowledge of you and home in heaven;
And may I hear your voice and see
The joys of hope that daily beckon.