Tuesday, August 7, 2012

And Shall I Pray...

“And shall I pray Thee change Thy will, my Father, 
Until it be according unto mine? 
But no, Lord, no; that never shall be, rather 
I pray Thee, blend my human will with Thine. 

“I pray Thee hush the hurrying, eager longing, 
I pray Thee, soothe the pangs of keen desire, 
See in my quiet places wishes thronging– 
Forbid them, Lord, purge, though it be with fire. 

 “And work in me to will and do Thy pleasure, 
Let all within me, peaceful, reconciled, 
Tarry content my Well beloved’s leisure 
At last, at last, even as a weaned child.” 

 Nathan Brown of Burma, from Elisabeth Elliot’s “Shadow of the Almighty”