Jesus, I Long For Thy Blessed Communion

1 Jesus, I long for Thy blessed communion,
Yearning for Thee fills my heart and my mind;
Draw me from all that would hinder our union,
May I to Thee, my beginning, be joined;
Show me more clearly my hopeless condition;
Show me the depth of corruption in me,
So that my nature may die in contrition,
And that my spirit may live unto Thee!

2 Mightily strengthen my spirit within me,
That I may learn what Thy Spirit can do;
O take Thou captive each passion and win me,
Lead Thou and guide me my whole journey through!
All that I am and possess I surrender,
If Thou alone in my spirit mayst dwell,
Everything yield Thee, O Savior most tender,
Thou, only Thou, canst my sadness dispel.

3 O that I only might learn consecration,
Make full surrender of heart day by day!
O that my Jesus might be my sole portion,
I am, alas! all too far, far away.
Jesus, whose voice full of love's gentle warning,
Gladly I follow, O give me Thy hand,
That in pure holiness, faith's bright adorning,
Like a true Christian I walk to the end.

4 Jesus, O hear Thou Thy dove's gentle cooing!
Shepherd, go seek the lost, wandering lamb!
Thou, who hast won me by love's tender wooing,
Cleanse Thou my heart from its sin and its shame.
May I not be like a sepulchre whited,
Fair and all beautiful outside alone:
But may Thy law in my heart be indited,
That in full truth I may call me thine own.

5 Jesus, when shall I find rest in the haven?
Heavy the burden, remove it from me!
When shall I see Thee, my Savior, in heaven?
Rise, Lord, and quiet the wild troubled sea!
O loving Jesus, show mercy right speedy;
Hide not Thy countenance always from me;
Thou, purest wealth of the inwardly needy;
Fill Thou my heart, precious Savior, with Thee.

6 Jesus, my love let not go unrequited:
See my poor soul growing weary, O Lord.
Let us, Immanuel, now be united,
When Thou art with me, my soul is restored.
Once Thou didst say, "They will hunger and perish,
If I permit them to go on their way;"
Love everlasting! Refuse not to nourish
Souls that are hungering for fragments today.

7 Merciful Jesus, now hear how I bind Thee
To the sure pledge of Thy covenant word:
"Ask, and receive: when ye seek, ye shall find me;"
Thus have Thy lips, ever faithful, averred.
I with the woman of Canaan unresting,
Cry after Thee till my longing is stilled,
Till Thou shalt add, my petitions attesting,
"Amen, yea, amen: it be as thou wilt!"


Source: The Lutheran Hymnary #461