Up, my soul, gird thee with power

1 Up, my soul, gird thee with pow'r,
Watch! to prayer betake thee;
Lest the sudden evil hour
Unawares o'ertake thee.
Satan's prey
Soon are they,
Who, with best endeavor,
Watch not, pray not, ever.

2 But first rouse thee, and awake
From secure indiff'rence;
Else will follow in its wake
Woe without deliv'rance.
Take thou heed!
Utter need,
Death in sins might find thee,
Ere thou look behind thee.

3 Wake, arouse! else can the Lord
Not enlighten, ground thee;
Nor thou see the quick'ning Word
Shine in splendor round thee.
God demands
Eyes and hands
Open for the offers,
He so richly proffers.

4 With thy watching mingle prayer;
Grace but rids from slumber.
God rids thee from slothful care
And the weights that cumber;
Else will still
Mind and will
Lukewarm praises tender,
And cold service render.

5 God will have it that we ask,
And it shall be given;
Who pray alway, alway bask
In the grace of heaven.
Ere they plead
Will He heed,
Strengthen, keep, defend them,
And deliv'rance send them.

6 Cheer thee then, my soul! all must
Work for good and bless us,
If we but in prayerful trust
To God's Son address us;
And He will
Richly fill,
And His Spirit send us,
Who to Him commend us.

7 Let us watch then, pray, with heed,
God will prove our Hearer;
For the hour of utmost need
Constantly draws nearer.
Saints will cheer,
Sinners fear,
When the trumpet calleth,
Earth in ruins falleth.

Source: American Lutheran Hymnal #229