Lamentation

Our strength is but a broken cisternBut you’rean overflowing stream

We set our minds on things belowAnd pursue frivolous dreams

Turnus, turn us, mighty God,And mold our souls afresh;

Break, sovereign grace, these hearts of stone,And give us hearts of flesh.

Let every wall that we erectProvoke our weeping eyes,

And hourly as new mercies fallLet hourly thanks arise.

This is our lamentationThis is our deep regret

Forbid that we should waste your graceAs we are doing yet.

Devastated and undoneIt is to you I run

I cast myself on YouAnd Your mercies come anew

But to bend is my desire Break me if that is required

Lord hear my lament And give me grace to repent

We invest such energy in things that pass away

The wood and hay and stubble will all soon decay

Avert our minds and set them on the unseen things above

The good the true the beautiful and the pursuit of love

Crush my haughty spirit and decimate my pride

Your flame, let me draw near it so i am purified

Help me hate my sinfulness until I learn to mourn

The things that grieve your Spirit I would scorn.

Devastated and undoneIt is to you I run

I cast myself on YouAnd Your mercies come anew

But to bend is my desire Break me if that is required

Lord hear my lament And give me grace to repent

Change our laughter to mourning we would grieve, and mourn and wail.

Turn our joy into gloomandMake our best devices fail

When we drink of this worlds prizeswe drink a bitter cup

But if we humble ourselvesbefore the Lord, thenhe will lift usup.

You would transform myhumble stateConform meto Your Son

Subect me to your goodnessAnd I will be undone

Raise me up from daily deathto life There is no greater pleasure

Your word is life and breathso make your presencemy great treasure

Devastated and undone It is to you I run

I cast myself on You And Your mercies come anew

But to bend is my desire Break me if that is required

Lord hear my lament And give me grace to repent

Lines 3-6 from Isaac Watts

Anthony Foster

October 28, 2018