Story Behind The Song

As a young Christian seeking to follow God with all of my heart, I discovered St. Francis of Assissi's prayer. Inspired, I picked up my guitar this song version was born.

Song Description

St. Francis was born at Assisi in 1182. After a care free youth, he turned his back on inherited wealth and committed himself to God. Like many early saints, he lived a very simple life of poverty, and in so doing, gained a reputation of being the friend of animals. He established the rule of St Francis, which exists today as the Order of St. Francis, or the Franciscans. He died in 1226, aged 44. The prayer has many of the biblical truths of what it means to be a Christian - to seek to give, and in so doing, receive blessings; that the Lord's Prayer asks God to forgive us as we forgive, and that the goal of eternal life can only result from us putting to death our old sinful lives. To bring the exact opposite of what we find in our world. St. Francis' prayer is a bold one, asking for strength to give of ourselves to meet the needs of others. He recognises that it "is in giving that we receive", that as we give of ourselves, we receive the peace and blessing of our risen Lord Jesus. We cannot earn eternal life, but that we are pardoned from the sins that block our claim on it. Think about the situations that you are involved in that require peace, consolation, hope, light and joy. Then, if you're bold enough, pray the prayer as you hear Daniel sing it.

Lyrics

Lord, make me an instrument; of Thy peace
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there?s despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy

O Divine Master
Grant that I may not so much
Seek to be consoled as to console
To be understood, as to understand
To be loved as to love

For it is in giving that
We receive
It is in pardoning
That we are pardoned
And it is dying
That we are born to eternal life

(repeats)