Frances Havergal
2 Timothy 2:1-2; 15
You then, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus; and what you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth.
Lord, Speak to Us, That We May Speak LBW 403
1 Lord, speak to us, that we may speak in living echoes of your tone;
as you have sought, so let us seek your straying children, lost and lone.
2 Oh, lead us, Lord, that we may lead the wand’ring and the wav’ring feet;
oh, feed us, Lord, that we may feed your hung’ring ones with manna sweet.
3 Oh, teach us, Lord, that we may teach the precious truths which you impart;
and wing our words, that they may reach the hidden depths of many a heart.
4 Oh, fill us with your fullness, Lord, until our very hearts o’erflow
in kindling thought and glowing word, your love to tell, your praise to show.
Text: Frances R. Havergal, 1836-1879, alt.
When Frances Havergal was a child, she had a nickname given her by her father, quicksilver –for her quick mind and quick wit. When her mother died when she was only 11, her father advised her to pray that God prepare her for whatever else the future might bring. Pray she did, and many of those prayers ended as hymn lyrics!
She wrote this particular one when she was 36. Prior to its publication, she wrote in a letter to a friend, “I am always surprised by my own stupidity…whenever I write I look up and wonder, ‘what comes next?’ And in doing this, I realize that every word, every thought, every rhyme comes from God through me to others!” Her original title for this hymn was, “A Workman’s Prayer.” She believed the secret of discipleship was knowing that what we do, or in her case what she wrote, was never the product of one’s cleverness or skill, but always our response to God’s gifts working through us, or God speaking to us, that we might speak to others.
Prayer: Lord, speak to us that we may speak…speak of your wondrous love, speak of your gracious presence, speak of your promises, speak of the hope that is ours through your resurrection. And in our speaking, with glowing words and hearts overflowing, may we reveal you to the world! Amen.