It was an oddly complicated, but interesting creative process to try to give this a slightly more modern feel.
N.B. I quite like this to the tune Diademata (Crown him with many crowns) However, I think my own tune may help bring out some of the meaning in the lyrics;
You can hear a version of this here;
| Jesus, our strength, our hope, - Pete Brazier & Charles Wesley 2015 & 1742 |
Jesus, my Strength, my Hope, - Charles Wesley Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1742 |
| Jesus, our strength, our hope, On you we lay our care, With humble confidence look up, And know you hear our prayer. Let us on you await Till all things can we do; On you, the one who does create, And shall make all things new. We want a clearer mind, A self-renouncing will, That takes apart and leaves behind Temptation's fleeting thrill; A soul not scared of pain, Of hardship, grief, and loss, Bold to take up, firm to sustain That consecrated cross. We want a careful ear, A quick discerning eye That looks to you when sin is near And hears the tempter fly; A soul ever prepared And armed with conscious care, Forever standing on its guard And keeping watch in prayer. We want a heart to pray, To pray and never cease, Not mutter words about your way, Or wish our sufferings less. This blessing, above all, Always to cry to you, Out of the deep on you we call, Until this life is through. We want a true regard, A single, steady aim, Unmoved by threat'ning or reward To you and your great Name. A clear and just concern For your immortal praise; A pure desire that all may learn And glorify your grace. We rest upon your Word; Its promise ever true; Our comfort and salvation, Lord, Shall surely come from you. But let us still abide, Nor from our hope remove, Till you, our longing spirits, guide Into your perfect groove. We want with every heart Your pleasure to fulfil, To know ourselves, and thus to start, To know your perfect will. We want, we know not yet, We want our wants to see We want what sadly we forget When God is not in me |
Jesus, my Strength, my Hope, On Thee I cast my care, With humble confidence look up, And know Thou hear’st my prayer. Give me on Thee to wait Till I can all things do; On Thee, almighty to create, Almighty to renew. I want a sober mind, A self-renouncing will, That tramples down and casts behind The baits of pleasing ill; A soul inured to pain, To hardship, grief, and loss, Bold to take up, firm to sustain The consecrated cross. I want a godly fear, A quick discerning eye That looks to Thee when sin is near And sees the tempter fly; A spirit still prepared And armed with jealous care, Forever standing on its guard And watching unto prayer. I want a heart to pray, To pray and never cease, Never to murmur at Thy stay, Or wish my sufferings less. This blessing, above all, Always to pray, I want, Out of the deep on Thee to call, And never, never faint. I want a true regard, A single, steady aim, Unmoved by threat’ning or reward To Thee and Thy great Name. A jealous, just concern For Thine immortal praise; A pure desire that all may learn And glorify Thy grace. I rest upon Thy Word; The promise is for me; My comfort and salvation, Lord, Shall surely come from Thee. But let me still abide, Nor from my hope remove, Till Thou my patient spirit guide Into Thy perfect love. I want with all my heart Thy pleasure to fulfil, To know myself, and what Thou art, And what Thy perfect will. I want I know not what, I want my wants to see, I want—alas! what want I not, When Thou art not in me? |
