*Pastor’s Note: A.B. Simpson was a very well respected Canadian preacher, theologian and author who lived from December 15, 1843 to October 29, 1919. My prayer is that you will be blessed and inspired by his poetry as much as I am.

LET YOURSELF ALONE

Vain and fruitless is the struggle
Self to sanctify;
God alone can cleanse and keep you,
Wherefore should you try?
Oh, the needless cares and conflicts
You had never known,
If you’d learned the simple lesson,—
Let yourself alone.

Let your eyes keep looking upward;
Cease to look within;
All your introspection cannot
Cleanse a single sin.
You will find your best self effort
Vain, and worse than vain,
As the touch of soiled fingers
Only leaves a stain.

Leave your rights and reputation
In the Master’s hand.
What though men misunderstand you,
Jesus understands;
He can shield and vindicate you,
Right your every wrong,
Turn the hate of men and devils
Into joy and song.

It is life you need, not labor—
Life that springs from Him;
If you’d have your cup run over,
Fill it to the brim.
All the springs of power and blessing
Flow from yonder throne;
If you’d have them fill and flood you,
Let yourself alone.

From Songs of the Spirit: Poetry by A. B. Simpson. Public Domain