At Any Cost

O Lord my God, much grace by Thee

Has freely been bestowed on me.

Thy mercy, love, yea–wondrous light

Delivered me from blackest night.

And now can I, dare I, choose ease?

Go back to things myself to please?

Nay, Father, stir me for the lost

To give myself,–at any cost!

~~

How greatly privileged I have been

Thru out these years on Thee to lean.

Upon thy word I’ve freely fed;

By waters still I have been led.

How great a debtor now am I!

Take thou my all, to live or die.

Have mercy, Lord, don’t let me rust!

Break Thou my heart at any cost!

~~

Yes, much I’ve heard of all the lost;

I’ve even prayed, “O save, Thou must”!

But now, it’s up to me to choose:

Will I my life for thy sake lose?

Some day I’ll answer for this choice.

Will I regret? Will I rejoice?

O solemn hour! O countless lost!

Can I say, “Yes, at any cost”?

~~

From henceforth ALL to thee I give,

I know not where my life I’ll live,

And care not, only if God’s Son

Can look on me and say “Well done.”

In joy? In pain? what matters where

If I but know you sent me there?

Cost? Nay! ‘Tis gain to follow Thee;

Lead on, Thou Lamb of Calvary!

~~ anonymous ~~

Copied from the prayer card of Elaine Townsend (1915-2007)

wife of William Cameron Townsend (1896-1982) founder of

Wycliffe Bible Translators, JAARS, et al.