“Live to Him and for Him today” by John Newton

“I profess to believe that one thing is needful and sufficient, and yet my thoughts are prone to wander after a hundred more.

If it is true that the light of His countenance is better than life, why am I solicitous about anything else?

If He is all-sufficient, and gives me liberty to call Him mine, why do I go a begging to creatures for help?

If He is about my path and bed; if the smallest, as well as the greatest, events in which I am concerned are under His immediate direction; if the very hairs of my head are numbered; then my care (any farther than a care to walk in the paths of His precepts, and to follow the openings of His providence) must be useless and needless, yea indeed sinful and heathenish, burdensome to myself, and dishonourable to my profession.

Let us cast down the load we are unable to carry; and if the Lord be our Shepherd, refer all, and trust all to Him.

Let us endeavour to live to Him and for Him today, and be glad that tomorrow, with all that is behind it, is in His hands.

It becomes us to say, ‘It is not necessary for me to be rich, or what the world accounts wise; to be healthy, or admired by my fellow-worms; to pass through life in a state of prosperity and outward comfort.’

These things may be, or they may be otherwise, as the Lord in His wisdom shall appoint.

But it is necessary for me to be humble and spiritual, to seek communion with God, to adorn my profession of the Gospel, and to yield submissively to His disposal, in whatever way, whether of service or suffering, He shall be pleased to call me to glorify Him in the world.

It is not necessary for me to live long, but highly expedient that whilst I do live I should live to Him.

Here then I would bound my desires; and here, having His Word both for my rule and my warrant, I am secured from asking amiss.

Let me have His presence and His Spirit, wisdom to know my calling, and opportunities and faithfulness to improve them.

And as to the rest, Lord, help me to say, ‘What Thou will, when Thou will, and how Thou will.’”

–John Newton, The Works of John Newton, Volume 2 (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1820/1988), 2: 228-229.