Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken

I just recently discovered this beautiful hymn by a man named Henry F. Lyte. His testimony is fascinating and is worth a read.

I hope and pray that this hymn can be my my honest prayer this year.

Jesus, I my cross have taken, all to leave and follow Thee;

Destitute, despised, forsaken, Thou from hence my all shall be;

Perish every fond ambition, all I’ve sought, and hoped or known;

Yet how rich is my condition, God and heaven are still my own!

 

Let the world despise and leave me, they have left my Savior too;

Human hearts and looks deceive me; Thou art not, like man, untrue;

And, while Thou shalt smile upon me, God of wisdom, love and might,

Foes may hate and friends may shun me; show Thy face and all is bright.

 

Go, then, earthly fame and treasure! Come, disaster, scorn and pain!

In Thy service, pain is pleasure; with Thy favor, loss is gain.

I have called Thee, “Abba, Father;” I have set my heart on Thee:

Storms may howl, and clouds may gather, all must work for good to me.

 

Man may trouble and distress me, ’twill but drive me to Thy breast;

Life with trials hard may press me, heaven will bring me sweeter rest.

O ’tis not in grief to harm me, while Thy love is left to me;

O ’twere not in joy to charm me, were that joy unmixed with Thee.

 

Hasten on from grace to glory, armed by faith, and winged by prayer;

Heaven’s eternal day’s before me, God’s own hand shall guide me there.

Soon shall close my earthly mission, swift shall pass my pilgrim days;

Hope shall change to glad fruition, faith to sight, and prayer to praise.