Monday, November 14, 2016

Today’s Hymn            
Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
wean it from earth; through all its pulses move;
stoop to my weakness, mighty as thou art,
and make me love as I ought to love.

I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies,
no sudden rending of the veil of clay,
no angel visitant, no opening skies;
but take the dimness of my soul away

Hast thou not bid us love thee, God and King;
all, all thine own, soul, heart, and strength, and mind?
I see thy cross; there teach my heart to cling.
O let me seek thee, and O let me find!

George Croly’s “Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart”
from Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal

Reflection
This hymn, written by George Croly, is a passionate plea to the Spirit to help shape oneself into the person that God has called him or her to be. Our faith lives are often described through the language of journeying, walking through the paths of life and discovering what God has in store for us. Croly, however, does not see faith as something to be passively received—we are to cling to it and to allow it to form and to mold us. “All, all,” he writes—following God will demand all of us: our soul, our heart, our strength, and our mind. This is no meandering journey; this is a single-minded focus on glorifying God through everything that we do.

Are we prepared to give our all to God—our heart, strength, and mind? There are so many things in each of our lives that demand our attention: things that push, pull, insist, and cajole. It is only through God’s Spirit, Croly writes, that we can find a way to break through these distractions to give focus to the God who has called us to something greater. This is not dependent on God’s Spirit giving us ecstatic experiences or dramatic encounters; instead, it is a slow process of gaining clarity and allowing our vision to become that of God’s. Let us indeed seek that changed vision, and let us indeed find!

Prayer
Almighty God, I come before you asking humbly to be reshaped by you. Ask much of me, expect much from me, enable much by me, and encourage many through me. Help me to see this world as you would, living and working to your praise and glory. Amen.

Written by Matt Helms, Associate Pastor for Children and Family Ministry

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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