THIS should be the Christian's daily prayer; his way is rough, the dangers are many, his foes are powerful, and he is liable to fall. If we from the heart present this prayer, it proves that we have a sense of our own weakness; a knowledge of the Lord as our strength; genuine humility working within; and a desire to honour God ruling in the conscience. We are in the world, and unless the Lord hold us up, we shall bring guilt on the conscience, disgrace on the gospel, and dishonour to God. We are in the church, and unless the Lord hold us up, we shall prove roots of bitterness, stumbling-blocks, and grieve the godly. We shall be, if we are not, in affliction, and unless the Lord hold us up, we shall faint, be angry with God, as was Jonah, or be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. O believer, lean not on earth; trust not in a friend; place no dependance on gifts; but let your daily, yea, hourly prayer be, "Hold Thou me up, and I shall be safe." The ear of thy God is open, the heart of thy God is tender, the arm of thy God is strong.
Son of God! Thy blessing grant; Still supply my every want; Unsustain'd by Thee, I fall; Send the strength for which I call; Weaker than a bruised reed Help I every moment need.
Written by James Smith for his own flock around 1840, but such was the demand that by 1846 over thirty thousand copies where in circulation.
James Smith was a predecessor of Charles Spurgeon at New Park Street Chapel in London from 1841-1850. He also ministered with great blessing in Cheltenham. His devotional, The Believer's Daily Remembrancer, subtitled Pastor's Morning and Evening Visit, was very popular in its own day, and has received a new lease of life through recent republication.
THIS should be the Christian's daily prayer; his way is rough, the dangers are many, his foes are powerful, and he is liable to fall. If we from the heart present this prayer, it proves that we have a sense of our own weakness; a knowledge of the Lord as our strength; genuine humility working within; and a desire to honour God ruling in the conscience. We are in the world, and unless the Lord hold us up, we shall bring guilt on the conscience, disgrace on the gospel, and dishonour to God. We are in the church, and unless the Lord hold us up, we shall prove roots of bitterness, stumbling-blocks, and grieve the godly. We shall be, if we are not, in affliction, and unless the Lord hold us up, we shall faint, be angry with God, as was Jonah, or be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. O believer, lean not on earth; trust not in a friend; place no dependance on gifts; but let your daily, yea, hourly prayer be, "Hold Thou me up, and I shall be safe." The ear of thy God is open, the heart of thy God is tender, the arm of thy God is strong.
Son of God! Thy blessing grant; Still supply my every want; Unsustain'd by Thee, I fall; Send the strength for which I call; Weaker than a bruised reed Help I every moment need.