Take Time to Be Holy
Backgrounder: William Longstaff
of England heard a sermon on
the text:Be ye holy, for I am holy,
and wrote down what holiness
meant to him. A businessman
at heart, Longstaff wrote no
pious sounding verses but down
to earth thoughts and appeared
in Christian newspaper in 1882.
Years later gospel composer
George Stebbins remembered
the poem when he was asked
if there was a good hymn on
living a Holy life. Retrieving
the newspaper clipping he had
saved, he set the poem to music.
Lord, we’ll take time to Be Holy.
Warn those who are lazy.
Encourage those who are timid.
Take tender care of those
who are weak. Be patient with
everyone. See that no one pays
back evil for evil, but always try
to do good to each other and
to all people. Be joyful always;
pray continually; give thanks in
all circumstances, for this is God’s
will for you in Christ (1Ths 5:14-18).
Lord Jesus, Your sacrificial love is
amazing and grateful for Yr depths
of love. Lord I truly belong to You.
But I acknowledge that I can’t
navigate this journey on my own.
Help me to be ready to do Your
will and to take up the cross daily.
And as I look up with steadfast
hope, let my will be lost in Thine.
It’s been my prayer Lord that I be
drawn nearer to You God & be able
to commune as friend with friend.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
Lord, I know it is always Your will
for me to be joyful and pray often
and give thanks in all circumstances.
Help me to remember to do Your
will even when I don’t see answers
to the prayers as I would like.
No matter what is happening
in my life, I know You Lord are
greater than anything I face.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
Take time to Be Holy,
Speak off with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always,
And feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children;
Help those who are weak;
Forgetting in nothing
His blessing to seek…
Take time to Be Holy,
Let Him be thy guide,
And run not before Him
Whatever betide;
In joy or in sorrow
Still follow the Lord,
And looking to Jesus,
Still trust in His Word. Amen.