Frances Havergal was the youngest daughter of a hymn writer in England. She was very intelligent, reading at the age of 4, and writing poems at the age of 7. She followed in her father's footsteps by becoming a deeply spiritual hymn writer, and also wrote several devotional books.
This hymn was written in 1872 as a help to those who minister in the church. It is written like a prayer, and I especially like the last verse, as it is a prayer of my own heart that the Lord will use ME wherever He sees fit to do so.
1872 – Frances R.
Havergal
Lord, speak to me that I may speak
In living echoes of Thy tone;
As Thou has sought, so let me seek
Thine erring children lost and lone.
In living echoes of Thy tone;
As Thou has sought, so let me seek
Thine erring children lost and lone.
O lead me, Lord, that I may lead
The wandering and the wavering feet;
O feed me, Lord, that I may feed
Thy hungering ones with manna sweet.
The wandering and the wavering feet;
O feed me, Lord, that I may feed
Thy hungering ones with manna sweet.
O strengthen me, that while I stand
Firm on the rock, and strong in Thee,
I may stretch out a loving hand
To wrestlers with the troubled sea.
Firm on the rock, and strong in Thee,
I may stretch out a loving hand
To wrestlers with the troubled sea.
O teach me, Lord, that I may teach
The precious things Thou dost impart;
And wing my words, that they may reach
The hidden depths of many a heart.
The precious things Thou dost impart;
And wing my words, that they may reach
The hidden depths of many a heart.
O give Thine own sweet rest to me,
That I may speak with soothing power
A word in season, as from Thee,
To weary ones in needful hour.
That I may speak with soothing power
A word in season, as from Thee,
To weary ones in needful hour.
O fill me with Thy fullness, Lord,
Until my very heart overflow
In kindling thought and glowing word,
Thy love to tell, Thy praise to show.
Until my very heart overflow
In kindling thought and glowing word,
Thy love to tell, Thy praise to show.
O use me, Lord, use even me,
Just as Thou wilt, and when, and where,
Until Thy blessèd face I see,
Thy rest, Thy joy, Thy glory share.
~~~
Two verses that go along with this hymn
Ephesians 6:20 - For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
2 Corinthians 1:4 - Who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
As Thou has sought, so let me seek
ReplyDeleteThine erring children lost and lone.
This is much of why we are here.
jim