WHAT’S IN YOUR WALLET?

There is a television commercial for a credit card that concludes with the question: “What’s in your wallet?” I fished out my wallet and looked inside. I found that I carried two prayers. One is from Ephesians 3:14-19 and the other is from a hymn, written by Ada Whiddington which I used to sing as a young Christian and which has always inspired me. Here they are.

When I think of the wisdom and scope of your plan, I fall down on my knees and pray to you, the Father of all the great family of God – some of them already in heaven and some down here on earth – that out of your glorious unlimited resources you will give me the mighty inner strengthening of your Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in my heart, living within me as I trust in him. May my roots go down deep into the soil of your marvelous love; and may I be able to feel and understand, as all your children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high your love really is; and to experience this love for myself, though it is so great that I will never see the end of it or fully know and understand it. And so at last I may be filled up with God himself.

Now glory to God who by your mighty power at work within me is able to do far more than I could ever dare to ask or even dream of – infinitely beyond my highest prayers, desires, thoughts or hopes. May I be given glory forever and ever through endless ages because of your master plan of salvation for the Church through Jesus Christ, Amen.

(Ephesians 3:14-19, The Living Bible)

Not I, but Christ, be honored, loved, exalted;

Not I, but Christ, be seen, be known, be heard;

Not I, but Christ, in every look and action,

Not I, but Christ, in every thought and word.

 

Not I, but Christ, to gently soothe in sorrow,

Not I, but Christ, to wipe the falling tear;

Not I, but Christ, to lift the weary burden,

Not I, but Christ, to hush away all fear.

Christ only Christ! No idle words e’er falling,

Christ, only Christ; no needless bustling sound;

Christ, only Christ; no self important bearing;

Christ, only Christ; no trace of ‘I’ be found.

 

Not I, but Christ, my every need supplying,

Not I, but Christ; my strength and health to be;

Not I, but Christ, for body, soul, and spirit,

Christ, only Christ, here and eternally.

(Ada Whiddington 1891)

What’s in your wallet?