This hymn was sung by politicians and church leaders at the Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast last Tuesday, becoming part of the dramatic conservative resignation narrative of the week.
Lord, for the years your love has kept and guided,
urged and inspired us, cheered us on our way…
I come to the God of time who’s been with me throughout my life. He’s ‘kept, guided, urged inspired, cheered, sought, pardoned and provided for all of my needs. Looking back, I thank God today with renewed confidence.
Lord, for that word, the word of life which fires us,
speaks to our hearts and sets our souls ablaze…
I come to the God of communication and relationship. He’s not just been an inactive guest, he’s been part of my life, ‘the word’ that teaches, trains, rebukes, inspires’. I thank God again with increasing confidence.
Lord, for our land in this our generation,
spirits oppressed by pleasure, wealth and care…
I pray for our country, the current political unrest… the homeless and hungry struggling with rising prices… the loveless and lonely… local politicians trying to make a difference, church leaders… the government dealing with inflation, the NHS… the Queen…
Lord, for our world where men disown and doubt you,
loveless in strength, and comfortless in pain,
I pray for the world… the war in Ukraine… those suffering religious persecution and corrupt governments… the refugee crisis, global warming, pollution. In places where there appear to be no solutions ‘Lord of the world, we pray that Christ may reign.’
Lord for ourselves; in living power remake us-
self on the cross, and Christ upon the throne…
Finally I pray for myself and those dear to me. I’ve preached the old illustration. ‘There’s a cross and throne in everybody’s life: it’s either Christ on the cross and self on the throne or self on the cross and Christ on the throne.’ Today I recommit myself to live for and with my God.
malcolmsmusings.org 
….self on the cross, and Christ upon the throne… Amen!
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As I said I’ve preached it before with diagrams. I can explain the theory… It’s what it actually looks like in my life… today, tomorrow that’s the constant challenge
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A full and rich post, my friend!! I especially like “the God of communication and relationship”–because it’s through those things that He meets and becomes everything else to me. I also like the ending note: ‘There’s a cross and throne in everybody’s life: it’s either Christ on the cross and self on the throne or self on the cross and Christ on the throne.’ I had not heard that before, but it’s surely true. Blessings on your week, Leslie.
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Thanks Leslie. I like the style of an old fashioned hymn (written 1969) that is a prayer to a God who is much bigger than me and my experience of him.
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