1
Father, I know that all my life is portioned out for me,
And the changes that are sure to come I do not fear to see;
But I ask Thee for a present mind intent on pleasing Thee.
And the changes that are sure to come I do not fear to see;
But I ask Thee for a present mind intent on pleasing Thee.
2
I ask Thee for a thoughtful love, through constant watching wise,
To meet the glad with joyful smiles, and to wipe the weeping eyes;
And a heart at leisure from itself, to soothe and sympathize.
To meet the glad with joyful smiles, and to wipe the weeping eyes;
And a heart at leisure from itself, to soothe and sympathize.
3
I would not have the restless will that hurries to and fro,
Seeking for some great thing to do or secret thing to know;
I would be treated as a child, and guided where I go.
Seeking for some great thing to do or secret thing to know;
I would be treated as a child, and guided where I go.
4
Wherever in the world I am, in whatso'er estate,
I have a fellowship with hearts to keep and cultivate;
And a work of lowly love to do for the Lord on whom I wait.
I have a fellowship with hearts to keep and cultivate;
And a work of lowly love to do for the Lord on whom I wait.
5
So I ask Thee for the daily strength, to none that ask denied,
And a mind to blend with outward life while keeping at Thy side;
Content to fill a little space, if Thou be glorified.
And a mind to blend with outward life while keeping at Thy side;
Content to fill a little space, if Thou be glorified.
6
And if some things I do not ask in my cup of blessing be,
I would have my spirit filled the more with grateful love to Thee,
More careful, not to serve Thee much, but to please Thee perfectly.
I would have my spirit filled the more with grateful love to Thee,
More careful, not to serve Thee much, but to please Thee perfectly.
7
There are briers besetting every path that call for patient care;
There is a cross in every lot, and an earnest need for prayer;
But a lowly heart that leans on Thee is happy anywhere.
There is a cross in every lot, and an earnest need for prayer;
But a lowly heart that leans on Thee is happy anywhere.
8
In a service which Thy will appoints there are no bonds for me;
For my inmost heart is taught "the truth" that makes Thy children "free"
And a life of self-renouncing love is a life of liberty.
For my inmost heart is taught "the truth" that makes Thy children "free"
And a life of self-renouncing love is a life of liberty.
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Honolulu, United States
God of arrangement
Barcelona, Spain
"But a lowly heart that leans on Thee is happy anywhere"
Tema, Greater Accra, Ghana
I haven't come across this hymn for close to a decade and yet I found myself singing it in a dream this morning.
Such powerful words.
Amen
Croydon, London, United Kingdom
I grew up hearing my late sweet saintly mother singing this hymn verse by verse. Every time I am reminded of this song I know God is drawing me closer to Him. Last night, as I slept, I dreamt singing this hymn, verse by verse and consciously I don't know the full lyrics, only the first verse by memory, but in my dream I was singing the whole song. Psalm 63:7 says" when I remember you upon my bed and meditate on you in the night watches of the night".
When we sleep with the Lord on our hearts, though we sleep our spirits communicate with God. Such a sobering thought. what a beautiful wonderful Father He is. I don't know exactly why I dreamt singing this hymn but my response is ... ALL I ASK THEE FOR IS A PRESENT MIND, INTENT OF PLEASING THEE. Amen.. Staying In The Light!
Detroit, Michigan, United States
If I myself dominate myself, if my thoughts revolve round myself, if I am so occupied with myself I rarely have "a heart at leisure from itself," then I know nothing of Calvary love. - Amy Carmichael (1867-1951)
--
This quote sounds like me.
Takoradi, Western, Ghana
“But I ask Thee for a present mind intent on pleasing Thee. ” Amen.
Osogbo, Osun, Nigeria
Just stumbled at this hymn for the first time. Never met with any that fits well enough to describe the true position of the crucified life. I'm excited at the instance of this great truth yet sober at the instance of its implications to my pilgrimage. Lord! Help help me!!
Virac, Catanduanes, Philippines
Father, I know that ALL MY LIFE is PORTIONED out for me,
And the CHANGES that are sure to come I DO NOT FEAR TO SEE;
But I ask Thee for a PRESENT MIND INTENT on PLEASING THEE.
So I ASK Thee for the DAILY STRENGTH, to none that ask denied,
And a mind to blend with outward life while keeping at Thy side;
CONTENT TO FILL A LITTLE SPACE, if THOU BE GLORIFIED.
And IF SOME THINGS I DO NOT ASK IN MY CUP of blessing be,
I would have my spirit filled the more with GRATEFUL LOVE to THEE,
More careful, not to serve Thee much, but TO PLEASE THEE PERFECTLY.
There are BRIERS besetting every path that call for patient care;
There is a CROSS in every lot, and an earnest need for prayer;
BUT A LOWLY HEART that LEANS ON THEE is HAPPY ANYWHERE.
Irvington, New Jersey, United States
Right now I know that changes are taking place more rapidly and frequently than usual, but am assured by this song that I just need to resign myself to the will of God. Lord, that I readily do now.
I learnt today to accept 4 things in my walk with God concerning the many vicissitudes of life:
1. I am in them by God's appointment.
2. I am in them in God's keeping.
3. I am in them as God's training ground.
4. I am in them till the fullness of God's perfect timing.
Together with lyrics of this great hymn, I sure can sleep at peace.
Praise the Lord.
United States
Best lyrics ever for me.