Lord, make me useful has been my prayer for a while now. Today I was thinking of this poem by Amy Carmichael. Old readers may remember I posted it well over a year ago. I still find it fitting. I love Amy Carmichael and I love her unselfish spirit which is so far from my very selfish heart. Today this is my prayer, and this is my midweek poetry.

Make Me Thy Fuel, Flame of God

From prayer that asks that I may be
Sheltered from winds that beat on Thee,
From fearing when I should aspire,
From faltering when I should climb higher,
From silken self, O Captain, free
Thy soldier who would follow Thee.

From subtle love of softening things,
From easy choices, weakenings,
(Not thus are spirits fortified,
Not this way went the Crucified,)
From all that dims Thy Calvary
O Lamb of God, deliver me.

Give me the love that leads the way,
The faith that nothing can dismay,
The hope no disappointments tire,
The passion that will burn like fire;
Let me not sink to be a clod:
Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God.

— Amy Carmichael (emphasis mine)