Lord, speak to me, that I may speak
In living echoes of thy tone;
As thou hast sought, so let me seek,
Thy erring children lost and lone.

457
O lead me, Lord, that I may lead
The wandering and the wavering feet;
O feed me, Lord, that I may feed
Thy hungering ones with manna sweet.

O strengthen me, that while I stand
Firm on the Rock, and strong in thee,
I may stretch out a loving hand
To wrestlers with the troubled sea.

O teach me, Lord, that I may teach
The precious things thou dost impart;
And wing my words, that they may reach
The hidden depths of many a heart.

O give thine own sweet rest to me,
That I may speak with soothing power
A word in season, as from thee,
To weary ones in needful hour.

O fill me with thy fullness, Lord
Until my very heart o'erflow
In kindling thought and glowing word,
Thy love to tell, thy praise to show.

O use me, Lord, use even me
Just as thou wilt, and when, and where;
Until thy blessed face I see,
Thy rest, thy joy, thy glory share.

Amen.

Scripture References:
st. 1 = Jer. 1:9
st. 3 = Isa. 50:4
st. 4 = 1 Cor. 12:4-11

Francis R. Havergal (PHH 288) wrote this text at Winterdyne, England, on April 28, 1872. With the heading "A Worker's Prayer" and with a reference to Romans 14:7 ("none of us lives to himself alone"), the seven-stanza text was first published as one of William Parlane's musical leaflets. It was then republished in Havergal’s Under the Surface in 1874. The Psalter Hymnal includes the original stanzas 1, 2, 4, and 7 in modern English.

"Lord, Speak to Me" is a prayer that God will speak to, lead, and teach each of us so that we may do the same to others who need Jesus Christ (st. 1-3). The text also express¬es our commitment to full-time kingdom service ("use me, Lord . . . just as you will, and when, and where") , an ongoing task that ultimately leads us to eternal "rest," 'Joy," and "glory" (st. 4).

Liturgical Use:
Worship that focuses on missions and evangelism (during Pentecost season) and on the "equipping of the saints for ministry."

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook