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Sunday, August 12, 2012

Church Music: May the Mind of Christ My Savior

"May the Mind of Christ My Savior" was often sung at the close of the message at the church in which I grew up.  It's words provide a great response to the ministry of the Word during corporate worship.  We do not know much about the story behind the hymn, but it was written by Kate Barclay Wilkinson.  It's words, composed some time prior to 1912, are based on Philippians ("Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus") and appear to have come out of the author's involvement with the Keswick Conferences.  Although not a huge Keswick fan myself, the words of the hymn challenge me to view God as the ministering agent and myself as the means by which He works.


May the mind of Christ my Savior
Live in me from day to day,
By His love and pow'r controlling
  All I do and say.

May the Word of Christ dwell richly
In my heart from hour to hour,
So that all may see I triumph
  Only through His pow'r.

May the peace of Christ my Savior
Rule my life in everything,
That I may be calm to comfort
  Sick and sorrowing.

May the love of Jesus fill me,
As the waters fill the sea;
Him exalting, self abasing,
  This is victory.

May I run the race before me,
Strong and brave to face the foe,
Looking only unto Jesus
  As I onward go

May His beauty rest upon me
As I seek the lost to win,
And may they forget the channel,
  Seeing only Him.