“Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart” ELW 800 and LBW 486
1 Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
wean it from earth, through all its pulses move;
stoop to my weakness, strength to me impart,
and make me love you as I ought to love.
2 I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies,
no sudden rending of the veil of clay,
no angel visitant, no op’ning skies;
but take the dimness of my soul away.
3 Have you not bid me love you, God and King;
all, all your own, soul, heart and strength and mind?
I see your cross; there teach my heart to cling.
Oh, let me seek you and, oh, let me find!
4 Teach me to love you as your angels love,
one holy passion filling all my frame:
the baptism of the heav’n-descended dove,
my heart an altar and your love the flame.
Devotion
Enthusiasm is a Pentecost word that literally means “in God” or “possessed by God.” Visionary leaders are enthusiastic about their mission in life. Moses’ prayer in Numbers 11 is that all God’s people would be prophets, people of enthusiasm, possessed by God. This is pure divine passion filling the hearts and minds of God’s people with the Pentecostal vision of everyone experiencing the marvelous works of God.
A favorite hymn, “Spirit of God, Descend Upon my Heart,” sings of “one holy passion filling all my frame.” This is our prayer – to be filled with such enthusiasm about our work, our mission and our very lives. To be a church committed to living the best possible life, the ELCA will need pastors and leaders given over to divine enthusiasm. Are you?
Prayer
Lord, pour out your Spirit and renew the face of the earth. Fill me with the enthusiasm of your Pentecost Spirit today and make me passionate about my ministry. Amen.