LORD, SPEAK TO ME

Frances R. Havergal, 1836–1879

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20)

As Christ’s personal ambassadors, we should be people of double resolve: To hear what God has to say to us and then to share that message with others.
Use me, God, in Thy great harvest field,
Which stretcheth far and wide like a wide sea;
The gatherers are so few; I fear the precious yield
Will suffer loss. Oh, find a place for me!
— Christina G. Rossetti

Effective service must always begin with prayer—asking God to use us to accomplish His eternal purposes in the lives of others. But we must not dictate to our Lord as to how and when we should be used. We are simply to be available whenever He directs in a particular situation. Then our representation for Him is simply to speak His truth boldly but always in love. Imploring lost people to be reconciled to God is far different from merely engaging them in theological arguments. We must always remember that the real need of people is to hear about the historical Christ as a personal Savior and Lord and to be guided to a living and vital relationship with Him.
Frances Ridley Havergal, the author of this text, has often been called the “consecration poet” because of her deep commitment to Christ. This text first appeared in 1872 in leaflet form with the title “A Worker’s Prayer,” accompanied by the scripture verse: “For none of us lives to himself and none dies to himself” (Romans 14:7). These words have since been widely used in leading others to a deeper consecration of their lives to God:

Lord, speak to me that I may speak in living echoes of Thy tone; as Thou hast sought, so let me seek Thy erring children lost and lone.

O lead me, Lord, that I may lead the wand’ring and the wav’ring feet; O feed me, Lord, that I may feed the hung’ ring ones with manna sweet.

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.

O fill me with Thy fullness, Lord, until my very heart o’er-flow in kindling tho’t 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 blessed face I see—Thy rest, Thy joy, Thy glory share.

For Today: Psalm 119:9–16; Luke 17:21; John 13:15; Acts 1:8; John 2:17

Ask God to engineer the circumstances that will allow you to represent Him effectively to some needy person. Use this musical prayer—

Osbeck, K. W.

• Wherewith shall a young man redress his way? in taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: let me not wander from thy commandments. I have hid thy promise in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes. With my lips have I declared all thy judgments of thy mouth. I have had as great delight in the way of thy testimonies, as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and consider thy ways. I will delight in thy statutes, and I will not forget thy word. Psalm 119:9-16
• Neither shall men say, Lo here, or lo there: for behold, the kingdom of God is within you. Luke 17:21
• For I have given you an example, that ye should do, even as I have done to you. John 13:15
• But ye shall receive power of the holy Ghost, when he shall come on you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8
• And his disciples remembered, that it was written, The zeal of thine huse hath eaten me up. John 2:17