Magnificent Prayer #219
Magnificent Prayer #219
To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
2 Corinthians 12:7–9
We too have our thorns in the flesh, apparent obstructions to the progress of the Kingdom of God. We pray that the hindrance might be taken away, yet it remains. Apparently God wishes to give grace in order that these seemingly adverse circumstances may be converted into our slaves, and made to minister to our own highest interests, to the welfare of others and the glory of God.
[Hymn writer] Frances Ridley Havergal was as frail as the most delicate porcelain. She prayed for greater strength, but the thorn remained. But who will say that her prayer was unanswered? Think of the tender songs that were sung from her frail tent! Her very weaknesses endowed her with delicacies of intuition, discernments in sacred exploration which have made her the precious guide and teacher of tens of thousands. Her power was made perfect in weakness…
J. H. JOWETT
Pray About It: Frances Havergal (1836–1879) was a poet and a hymn writer. In her hymns you can sense her love of God. And she, like Paul, and no doubt like each of us, prayed for a thorn in the flesh to be removed, but to no avail.
God would give the strength to bear was the answer. And often it’s our answer too. If you’ve prayed and the thorn remains, then consider that God means it as a vehicle of His strength. Out of your pain can come beauty as was the case with Frances Havergal.
Here is one of her hymns. Sing it if you know it. If you don’t know it, just read her words. God’s grace will suffice for your thorn.
Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect, and use every power as Thou shalt choose.
Take my will, and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for Thee.
Here’s the story of how Frances came to write this hymn:
I went for a little visit of five days (to Areley House). There were ten persons in the house, some unconverted and long prayed for, some converted, but not rejoicing Christians. He gave me the prayer, “Lord, give me all in this house!” And He just did. Before I left the house every one had got a blessing. The last night of my visit after I had retired, the governess asked me to go to the two daughters. They were crying, but then and there both of them trusted and rejoiced; it was nearly midnight. I was too happy to sleep, and passed most of the night in praise and renewal of my own consecration; and these little couplets formed themselves, and chimed in my heart one after another till they finished with “Ever, Only, ALL for Thee!”
From the book
