I surrendered to Thee

USE ME, O LORD! USE ME!

A Prayer of Surrender, Grace and Divine Purpose

Use me, O Lord! Use me,
After moulding and refining me;
With wonders beyond imagination, use me,
With humble heart and discipline, use me.

Those who chase possessions, power and pride,
Cry, “Time is too short!” as moments slide;
But those who seek Thy mercy and grace,
Say, “Prepare! The appointed hour we must embrace.”

All the days that passed in vain,
Like wasted years, return no gain;
Sweet-tongued relationships, built on pretence,
May come to mock my life's innocence.

I winked at time, believing it would wait,
And idled away what could have been great;
A fool in the eyes of those who see,
A subject of gossip and mockery.

They shall condemn my attitude,
And gather complaints with restless mood;
Disguised as friends and kin so dear,
They pour unsolicited counsel into my ear.

Some call it an inferiority complex,
When I raise myself beyond their expectations;
Others claim superiority in my ways,
When I bow in humility through all my days.

I scarcely understand my own heart,
Can another know me, every part?
Yes, Thou art my Maker, my Potter divine,
The truth of my soul is fully Thine.

Some relationships wish me to remain below,
Some relatives rejoice when I face sorrow;
But what lies behind their thoughts and ways?
I see my own reflection in my attitude and days.

To turn back time and rewrite my past,
Is useless labour; it cannot last;
The future I dreamed and planned with care,
Faded like mist into empty air.

The days have vanished, the people have gone,
Yet sluggishly I lingered, standing alone;
In search of people, I wandered astray,
And silently watched my life drift away.

I counted the days that slipped from my hand,
And searched for the losses I could not understand;
I shall not surrender to fear or despair,
For Thou, O Lord, art my source and care.

I never embraced oppression or suppression,
Nor bowed to human neglect and transgression;
Who can withhold what Thou hast decreed to give?
Who can grant what Thou dost forbid to live?

Thou knowest me better than I know myself,
My worth is not measured by worldly wealth;
The world may offer a thousand ways,
But only Thy wisdom can guide my days.

I have no troubled mind to bear,
For Thou art my Keeper, always there;
With eager heart, I look to Thee,
Let Thy joyful purpose unfold in me.

When I abide in Thy gracious light,
My inner strength rises, firm and bright;
When I stumble, judged for every flaw,
I learn through pain what pride never saw.

Greatness is neither possessions nor gold,
Nor pride in relatives, influence untold;
Greater than all that the world can decree,
Is Thy boundless grace bestowed upon me.

I am no slave to the pride of men,
Nor seek their favour again and again;
Let not my hands claim what belongs to Thee,
Work through my hands, O Lord, use me!

What I have done is known to all,
My triumphs, failures, rise and fall;
Yet all that matters, the world may not see,
Is the work of Thy hands accomplished through me.

Though everything seems within my reach,
I still seek the treasures beyond human speech;
Like an unlearned soul longing to know,
I search for wisdom wherever I go.

Shape me, O Lord, according to Thy will,
Mould my restless heart and make it still;
Draw me nearer, lay me at Thy feet,
Embrace me with mercy, make my healing complete.

Do not leave me to walk alone,
Nor let my life become a burden of my own;
Teach me to follow wherever Thou leadest me,
With willing heart and humility.

When love runs dry and justice departs,
When mercy is severed from hardened hearts;
When violence rises and truth is denied,
Let me stand for justice, with Thee as my guide.

When compassion fades and the helpless cry,
When truth is buried beneath a lie;
Use me as Thy voice, Thy strength and sword,
To defend the oppressed, in the name of the Lord.

Use me, O Lord! Use me,
Not for my glory, but for Thy story;
Not for my pride, but Thy purpose divine,
Let Thy will be done, and not mine.

Break me, mould me, refine me anew,
Make me a vessel worthy of You;
Until my final breath, let this be my plea:

USE ME, O LORD! USE ME!