Speak to Me That I May Speak

A prayer to start your work

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Welcome to devo+demo, a project combining scripture and song in short devotionals to help you spend focused time with God. To support this project, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber, and sharing with friends.

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Deuteronomy 30:14 …the word is very near you, it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.

As a writer of words, staring down a blank page, I am so encouraged by this verse.

I have had a devotional project on my heart for a while, to combine scripture and song in short devotionals that put truth in our hearts, minds, and ears.

But it was a struggle to get started. So I prayed.

Then the Lord brought this lesser-known hymn across my path. I updated it a little, but the essence is still the same: a prayer.

It’s a beautiful prayer to start work of any kind.

Speak to me, Lord, so that I have Your words to say.

Teach me, Lord, so that I have Your wisdom to share.

Fill me, Lord, so what comes out is Your life and peace.

Use me, Lord, however You see fit.

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Deuteronomy 30:11-14
Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” No, the word is very near you, it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.

Psalm 119:43
Never take Your word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in Your laws.

Romans 10:14-15
How, then, can they call on the One they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Ephesians 4:29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Jeremiah 23:28
Let the prophet who has a dream tell his dream, but let the one who has My word speak it faithfully.

1 Peter 4:10-11
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

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Click below to listen.

Speak to Me That I May Speak

Lord, speak to me that I may speak
In living echoes of Your tone
As You have sought, so help me seek
Your wandering children, lost and alone

Oh teach me Lord, that I may teach
The precious things that You impart
And wing my words that they may reach
The hidden depths of many hearts

Oh, fill me with Your boundless peace
Until my heart should overflow
And every thought and word and deed
Your love to tell, Your praise to show

Oh use me Lord, use even me
Just how You will, and when and where
Until Your blessed face I see
Your rest, Your joy, Your glory share
Lord, speak to me that I may speak

Speak to Me That I May Speak
Lyrics: Frances B. Havernal. Music: Robert Schumann. Public Domain.
Updated lyrics and melody arrangement by Amy Hooper
©2025 Walking Dichotomy Music (ASCAP)

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Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version (R) NIV (R) ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Songwriter Notes: I had never heard the original hymn before finding it randomly in an old hymnal. As I worked to update the rich lyrics and tweak the melody to be more easily comprehensible to the modern congregant, it became my personal prayer for the devo+demo project over the past year. So it seemed to be the best choice to post first.