God of My Life, Whose Gracious Power

God of my life, whose gracious power
Through varied deaths my soul hath led,

God of my life, whose gracious power
Through varied deaths my soul hath led,
Or turned aside the fatal hour,
Or lifted up my sinking head;

In all my ways thy hand I own,
Thy ruling Providence I see:
Assist me still my course to run,
And still direct my paths to thee.

Oft hath the sea confessed thy power,
And given me back at thy command;
It could not, Lord, my life devour,
Safe in the hollow of thine hand.

Oft from the margin of the grave
Thou, Lord, hast lifted up my head,
Sudden, I found thee near to save;
The fever owned thy touch, and fled.

Whither, O whither should I fly,
But to my loving Saviour’s breast?
Secure within thine arms to lie,
And safe beneath thy wings to rest.

I have no skill the snare to shun,
But thou, O Christ, my wisdom art!
I ever into ruin run,
But thou art greater than my heart.

Foolish, and impotent, and blind,
Lead me a way I have not known;
Bring me, where I my heaven may find,
The heaven of loving thee alone.

Enlarge my heart to make thee room;
Enter, and in me ever stay,
The crooked then shall straight become,
The darkness shall be lost in day.