More holiness give me

The words below are the lyrics to a song that haunts me, especially after Yom Kippur.  It’s a song we used to sing in church often when I was young, but I don’t believe anyone sings it any more.  It is, in my opinion, one of the great songs & prayers each of us should know.  I wish someone could put newer music to this so it would be appealing to younger folks … but even just memorizing it as it is will be a blessing to you.   

Holiness is very important.  It means “pure,” or “clean,” in simplest terms.  As we offer our bodies as living sacrifices in service, they must be holy.  Several scriptures refer to us as “saints,” which are holy people – which is what we should always be, but often fail.  May we fail less often.  May God bless us with a purer spirit and heart! 

I’ll leave you with just the lyrics to this song/prayer, and some related scriptures.  Consider including these ideas in your prayer life and make holiness a priority in your lives, as I am in mine. 

More holiness give me, more strivings within,

More patience in suffering, more sorrow for sin,

More faith in my Savior, more sense of His care,

More joy in His service, more purpose in prayer.

More gratitude give me, more trust in the Lord,

More pride in His glory, more hope in His Word,

More tears for His sorrows, more pain at His grief,

More meekness in trial, more praise for relief.

More purity give me, more strength to overcome,

More freedom from earth stains, more longings for home;

More fit for the kingdom, more useful I'd be,

More blessed and holy, more, Savior, like Thee.

Colossians 3:12-17

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved:

Put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;

Bearing with one another, and

Forgiving each other (whoever has a complaint against anyone); just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect [teleios] bond of unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…

…to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you…

…with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, & spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. 

Hebrews 12:14

Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification [sanctification means ‘holiness’] without which no one will see the Lord. 

1 Peter 1:14-19

As obedient children, don’t be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” [Leviticus 11.44, 19.2, 20.7] If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you weren’t redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.