Hope in You

I have been brought low
To despair of me, but hope
Is renewed in You

For in you is all
Strength and will and compassion
To live to please You

My life is not a
Matter of giving my all
Proving love in acts.

Rather, my utmost
To seek out all areas
To be filled with Yours

--

Lord, please help me to
Continue to desire full
Surrender to You,
Always seeking anything
Which still resists Your filling

Prayer for Contentment

It was much to give,
All of me; with the promise:
Complete submission,
Gratitude wherever You
Placed me, with sworn diligence.

I'm learning to trust,
Faith that You know, understand
My limits, better
Than even I. I'm sorry
For faltering and doubting.

In search of meaning;
Failure to forge my own path
While ignoring Yours,
Direction lost; forgetting
Promises from me; and You.

Renew my heart, mind
To have eyes for You alone,
Not searching for what
Tomorrow may bring; instead,
Seeking what I can do now.

You have placed me here,
Set responsibility
Before me. Much to live for
To be done for Your glory.
Invest in what's been given.

Lord, help me to be
Content, to focus on now,
Not seeking more things
Only more of You. Grateful
For undeserved worth in You.

Continue to mold,
Temper me. I desire to
Grow closer to You.

Sacrifice

Lord, renew Your flame,
Consume me, to burn only
In worship of You.

I plead for help, for
Faith to entrust challenges
To You, I want to
Put away self; become a
Living sacrifice to You.

Serving You

Reading doesn't save me
Writing doesn't save me
Sharing doesn't save me
God saves me despite me

I desire to give
My life, yet parts of me grasp
Tightly to this world.
Help me to loosen that grip
To turn fully to You, Lord.

Lord help me desire to read of You
Lord help me write of Your works
Lord help me share Your Good News
Lord help me honor You with my life.

All of Me

I awoke.
Squinting as the world comes to focus,
Tools line the walls; the forge lights the room.
How I came to be here matters not
For I know why, why I sought this room;
I seek the means to craft a weapon
To defend myself, perhaps others.
The materials were gifts from birth,
But purpose - my use for them - unknown.
I craft a sword; crude, the weight awkward
As I hold it up. With time and use
It will meet my needs: fend off mockers.

I awoke.
Visits here are without count, purpose
Of each lost to time. Instead, recall
Significant events which brought me:
The first time I struck a friend as the
Weight overcame my strength, when I cut
Myself reaching too quickly to fight,
When I met multiple threats at once...
With time and pain it lightened, grew in
Sharpness, but still durable; I changed
With it, adept at fighting off all,
Friend and foe alike; I protect me.

I awoke!
The King of this world, creator of
This realm met with me! My life had been
Without purpose, direction, only
Seeking my glory, my power, my
Pleasure. With these things I grew further
From others. I doubted the truth of
Friendships, grew lonely, depressed. The life
Of wandering no longer suited
Me, but I knew no other. This King
Offers direction as Lord of me.
I promise to help: to fight for Him.

I'm weary.
I have purpose, friendships grow in our
Common knowledge of Him. Still bear my
Sword, still live a guarded life; now a
Dual life - with troubles, I ask my
Lord for help, then fight them off alone.
Has my life changed? I have general
Direction, but I live my life as
Before; I live by this sword, forged from
Gifts from my Creator, now my King.
I must return to His court, Renew
My vow to follow His will; His way.

I'm hopeful.
"Lord, my King, this is my sword, something
Of my making from your gifts to me.
I believed it served me well before
I called you Lord, but it was leading
down a path to death, Death without trust,
Death alone. You saved me from that path,
On your path this sword can not help me.
I offer it to you: all of me.
Never again will I rely on
My strength. Teach me to trust in you, your
Strength; to rely on your strength alone."

I'm alive!

-----

I thank you Lord for
This new life. Free of burden,
I offer my love.
All my life is yours to take
And fill with righteous desires.

====================================

This post has been a long time in coming; apologies for that. Critiques of the very different format are welcome and, as always, comments on the content are also welcome.

My Savior

Under my own strength,
I am helpless to resist
In temptation's face.

The world responds with,
"Be an individual,
You can overcome."

I'm insufficient
To meet This Perfect Standard.
I can't withstand all.

Sin, always my choice.
God offers His perfect strength,
- But for me to choose.

This journey of life
Teaches me to trust in God,
Not to trust my strength.

To learn these lessons:
Teach me to turn to You first,
Not rely on self.

Let me not forget,
That while my will (strength) might grow.
I can rest on You.