A Woman’s Prayer

God make my life a little light, a little flower, a little song, a little staff, and a little hymn…

Matilda edwards

Matilda Edwards (1836-1919) wrote a beautiful little poem titled, “A Child’s Prayer” in 1884. I read this poem over and over this morning, offering it to God as a simple prayer. The simplicity of this prayer struck me first, noting the sweet language and imagery offered by the poet. But on the heels of simplicity came the heart of humility. Through the use of plain words, the Christian rests in a posture of contentment and peace, offering to God a heart of obedience.

God make my life a little light,
Within the world to glow, --
A tiny flame that burneth bright,
Wherever I may go.

God make my life a little flower,
That giveth joy to all;
Content to bloom in native bower
Although its place be small.

God make my life a little song,
That comforteth the sad;
That helpeth others to be strong,
And makes the singer glad.

God make my life a little staff
Whereon the weak may rest,
That so what health and strength I have
May serve my neighbors best.

God make my life a little hymn
Of tenderness and praise,
Of faith, that never waxeth dim,
In all His wondrous ways.

As I read this poem the thought struck me: what if Christian women, namely American Christian women, offered to God this prayer of meekness and humility? Most American Christian women appear to desire the “big” things (e.g., platforms, influence, acclaim, etc.). But this poem reveals a true posture for the Christian woman.

Scripture-Guided Prayer

Romans 8:5 states, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.”

Likewise, 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 records that Christians are to “aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.”

Lastly, in Titus 2:3-5, we read that “Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.”

There are many, many more passages that address how we are to live as Christians, but these verses help form the basis of Edwards’s poem. Are we willing to say, “God, make my life a little” anything? Or are we praying, “God, make my life influential and important?” Are we willing to serve God where no one sees us? Or will we only serve him based on our selfish desires?

Our sovereign God places us each in our own situations to bring honor and glory to him in all things. It’s simple and complex, just like this poem. Christian women, let this poem be the prayer of your life this week. Offer to God a prayer of humility and contrition, trusting him to be the Sovereign Ruler of your life.

For further reading on contentment, see Jeremiah Burroughs’s The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment or Thomas Watson’s The Art of Divine Contentment. For further reading from Acceptable Worship, see Biblical Motherhood.