God of My Life, Whose Gracious Power

God of my life

whose gra­cious pow­er

Through var­ied deaths my soul hath led

Or turned aside the fa­tal hour

Or lift­ed up my sink­ing head!

In all my ways Thy hand I own

Thy rul­ing pro­vi­dence I see:

Assist me still my course to run

And still di­rect my paths to Thee.

On Thee my help­less soul is cast

And looks again Thy grace to prove;

I call to mind the won­ders past

The count­less won­ders of Thy love.

Thou

Lord

my spir­it oft has stayed

Hast snatched me from the gap­ing tomb

A mo­nu­ment of Thy mer­cy made

And res­cued me from wrath to come.

Oft hath the sea con­fessed Thy pow­er

And gave me back to Thy com­mand;

It could not

Lord

my life de­vour

Safe in the hol­low of Thine hand.

Oft from the mar­gin of the grave

Thou

Lord

hast lift­ed up my head;

Sudden I found Thee near to save;

The fev­er owned Thy touch

and fled.

But O! The migh­ti­er work of grace

That still the life of faith I live

That still I pant to sing Thy praise

That still my all I gasp to give.

Plucked from the roar­ing lion’s teeth

Caught up from the eter­nal fire

Snatched from the gates of hell I breathe

And lo! to Heav­en I still as­pire!

Whither

oh whi­ther should I fly

But to my lov­ing Sav­ior’s breast;

Secure with­in Thine arms to lie

And safe be­neath Thy wings to rest!

I feel the fie­ry tri­al near

But Thou

my God

art still the same;

Hell

earth

and sin I scorn to fear

Divinely armed with Je­su’s name.

I have no skill the snare to shun

But Thou

O Christ

my wis­dom art;

I ev­er in­to ru­in run:

But Thou art great­er than my heart.

I have no might t’op­pose the foe

But ev­er­last­ing strength is Thine.

Show me the way that I should go;

Show me the path I should de­cline.

Which shall I leave

and which pur­sue?

Thou on­ly mine ad­vis­or be;

My God

I know not what to do;

But Oh! mine eyes are fixed on Thee.

Foolish

and im­po­tent

and blind

Lead me a way I have not known;

Bring me where I my heav­en may find

The heav­en of lov­ing Thee alone.

Enlarge my heart to make Thee room;

Enter

and in me ev­er stay;

The crook­ed then shalt straight be­come:

The dark­ness shall be lost in day!