Let My Life – A Poem

By Joy Calle Martinez

Let my life, O Lord, be as fragrant incense 

ever rising before You;

let it be as a burnt offering 

laid upon the altar of Your grace;

let it be a living sacrifice

holy and acceptable to You.

Let my life, O Lord, ascend to Your heavenly throne

as a sweet perfume,

as an aroma pleasing to You, my God.

Let everything I am belong to the Lord,

my Deliverer, Who brought me out of my desert of sin

and led me into His land of redemption,

the land flowing with milk and honey.

As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness

my Savior was lifted up to draw me to Him,

so that just by turning my eyes upon Him

I was healed.

My King, righteous and victorious

took my sin upon His shoulders

and bore the punishment I deserved;

He had done no evil, nor was there any deceit in His mouth,

yet as a sheep before its shearers is silent,

so He did not open His mouth.

He laid His life upon the altar

and died for me while I was yet a sinner—

a sinner cruel and vile, who helped to nail Him to the cross

and crucify Him;

who mocked the One Who hung dying,

dying 

because He loves me so deeply and tenderly.

I look to the cross, and I pray,

“O Lord, draw me nearer, draw me closer,

closer, ever closer to You.

Let me look like You, to look like Love;

let me lay down my life in love

as You laid Yours down for me.

For no one can take Your life from You;

You lay it down willingly,

of Your own accord,

and You laid it down for me.

I can never fathom why You love me,

and Your mercy and compassion

are beyond my understanding.

There is none but You, Lord; none but You.

No one else loves me as You do;

You alone are my portion 

and my cup;

You make my lot secure.

You are my Lord;

apart from You, I have no good

thing.

You make known to me the path

of life;

in Your presence is fullness of joy.

I trust in Your unfailing 

love;

my heart rejoices in Your

salvation.”

O Lord, let my life be testimony of You;

let it be

the proof of Your love.

Let it be the reason a heart believes,

a tongue rejoices,

a mouth confesses,

a soul is saved;

let it be irrefutable evidence

that You are love.

Let me be servant and slave to all,

just as the Son of Man

did not come to be served

but to serve,

and to give His life

as a ransom for many.

A Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;

We despised Him,

and yet He died for us

so that by His wounds we are healed.

He was pierced for our transgressions

and crushed for our iniquities;

He is the perfect Lamb

Who gave Himself up to be slain

because of His love so great,

so passionate, so all-consuming;

the love of a tender adoptive Father

for His adopted children.

Let my life, O Lord, be as fragrant incense 

ever rising before You;

let it be as a burnt offering 

laid upon the altar of Your grace;

let it be a living sacrifice

holy and acceptable to You.

Let my life, O Lord, ascend to Your heavenly throne

as a sweet perfume,

as an aroma pleasing to You, my God.