"The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. There is no law against these things!" Galatians 5:22-23
A man named George Croly (1780 – 1860) was an Irish writer of novels, biographies, plays and poetry. A number of his books and poetry are still in print and can be purchased on Amazon! He was also an Anglican priest, ministering in a small parish church in London. At age 50 he answered a call to reopen a church in one of London’s worst slums that had been closed for more than a century. At age 74 he prepared a new hymnal for that congregation, including at least one of his own songs, “Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart.”
Stories of the diligence and longevity of fellow Christians through the centuries can be both humbling and inspiring. As long as we have breath, it seems that God has something meaningful for us to do. We may never see the full effects of our own efforts in God’s kingdom work, but He will, and that’s all that really matters.
These two stanzas of Mr. Croly’s beautiful hymn can stand alone as a powerful prayer for today:
I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies.
No sudden rending of the veil of clay.
No angel visitant, no opening skies;
But take the dimness of my soul away.
Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love.
One holy passion filling all my frame;
The baptism of the heaven-descended Dove,
My heart the altar, and Thy love the flame.
Here’s a rendition of the hymn by Sue Nixon with Walter Wagner, if you’d care to listen.
Have a blessed day!