Little is known about Kate Wilkinson. Born in 1859, she was a member of a Anglican church in London and was involved in helping young women on the west side of the city. This hymn was first published in an English children’s hymnbook called Golden Bells in 1925. In 1968, the president of Wheaton College, Dr Hudson T. Armerding, included this text in the commencement program, where it has continued to be used every year. He considered it to be particularly important for the young’ “who have so much potential”. It was regularly sung at the conclusion of Wheaton College’s chapel services¹. Below is a very simple acoustic version; why don’t you make this your prayer today?

May the mind of Christ my Saviour
Live in me from day to day,
By His love and pow’r controlling
All I do and say.

May the Word of Christ dwell richly
In my heart from hour to hour,
So that all may see I triumph
Only through His pow’r.

May the peace of Christ my Saviour
Rule my life in every thing,
That I may be calm to comfort
Sick and sorrowing.

May the love of Jesus fill me,
As the waters fill the sea;
Him exalting, self abasing,
This is victory.

May I run the race before me,
Strong and brave to face the foe,
Looking only unto Jesus
As I onward go.

May His beauty rest upon me
As I seek the lost to win,
And may they forget the channel,
Seeing only Him.

¹ page 253 – Leeman, D. and Leeman, B., 2022. Our Hymns, Our Heritage: A Student Guide to Songs of the Church