I Asked the Lord
Sometimes, someone else says something so much better than I could ever say. I think others agree John Newton’s famous hymn, “I Asked the Lord that I Might Grow” accomplishes this.
I love the journey of this hymn. It starts with his desire for growth as a Christian. It ends with God’s response. But along the way, it appears God is silent.
“1 I asked the Lord that I might grow
in faith and love and every grace;
might more of His salvation know,
and seek more earnestly His face.
2 ‘Twas He who taught me thus to pray,
and He, I trust, has answered prayer,
but it has been in such a way
as almost drove me to despair.
3 I hoped that in some favored hour
at once He’s answer my request,
and by His love’s constraining pow’r
subdue my sins and give me rest.
4 Instead of this He made me feel
the hidden evils of my heart,
and let the angry pow’rs of hell
assault my soul in every part.
5 Yea more, with His own hand He seemed
intent to aggravate me woe,
crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
humbled my heart, and laid me low.
6 “Lord, why is this?” I trembling cried,
”Wilt Thou pursue Thy worm to death?”
”‘Tis in this way,” the Lord replied,
”I answer prayer for grace and faith.
7 “These inward trials I employ
from self and pride to set thee free,
and break thy schemes of earthly joy
that thou may’st find Thy all in Me.””
I love this hymn so much that I created my own music for it. Sometimes, the best thing we can do for someone else’s words and for our own heart is to reimagine it in our own way. I’ve found that nothing helps me internalize a thought quite like crafting my own art to showcase it. I do this by asking myself a few questions:
What does these words bring to my imagination?
What is the feel of these words?
What artistic genre do I have in my toolbox that would best capture the essence of these words?
For Newton’s hymn, is was this eerie kind of guitar part.
What about you? How would you remake these words with an art form?
***And a special thanks to my good friend, Randy Turner of Gooder Studios, for shooting such a nice video in Alaska.
Words reimagined from "I Asked the Lord That I Might Grow" by John Newton. Music by Matt Taylor.
