February 2000

by Carole Forde

I have seen Thee in Thy Sanctuary, Father;

I have worshipped in the temple of Thy Grace;

I have followed in Thy footsteps of humility

And gazed upon Thy Light-enshrouded Face.

I have fought a noble fight of Faith, O Father,.

On the battlefields of bloody victory,

I have seen the mighty fall before Thy Sword of Truth

As the Armor of Thy Love protected me.

I would lay aside the armor of a warrior

And exchange it for the garments of Thy praise;

Let my sword be made a plowshare in Thy Field of Love’

And my battlecry- a hymn to all Thy Ways.

As I kneel before the Altar of Thy Mercyseat

Beseeching and believing in Thy Will,

I bow to kiss the hem of Royal Raiment

Where the proud and broken hearts are mended still.

As a child I bring surrender of my innocence.

As a man I bring surrender of my guilt;

I yearn to be a part of Thy Chief Cornerstone

On which Thy House of Prayer is being built.

I lay aside the childishness of self-deceit;

Relinquishing my loveless heart of stone;

To save alive the Child- the precious Lamb of God,

Who sits upon the great and holy Throne.

I rest beside the Feet that trod the Paths of Light;

And urge Thee not to let my soul depart;

I lay my cheek upon Thy tender breast, O Lord,

And hear the steady beat of Love’s own heart.

Embrace me till my fears are drowned in Love so pure;

Impart to me the comfort of Thy Word;

Let every Arrow pierce the darkness of my doubts

With tones the sweetest any soul has heard.

O, let me dwell forever in Thy Covenant

In union with the Husband of my soul;

To bear His fruits of Joy and Peace with thankful heart

As one whose vine, at last, has been made whole.

Receive this prayer, O Lord of sweet surrender;

Reject and resurrect my fear of death;

And hear these words of Trust I speak with yielded lips,

As one anointed by Thy Holy Breath.

Amen.