I Asked The Lord

Verse one:
G              G/C            G       
I asked the Lord that I might grow 
             Em  C          D
In faith and love and ev’ry grace
              G             Em   C
Might more of His salvation know 
              Csus D        G
And seek more earnestly His face

Verse two:
G               G/C            G
‘Twas He who taught me thus to pray
          Em  C               D
And He, I trust, has answered prayer
           G              Em   C
But it has been in such a way 
          Csus D        G
As almost drove me to despair

Verse three:
G             G/C           G
I hoped that in some favored hour 
             Em  C       D
At once He’d answer my request 
            G                   Em   C
And, by His love’s constraining pow’r
          Csus D           G
Subdue my sins and give me rest

Verse four:
G             G/C           G
Instead of this, He made me feel 
           Em  C       D
The hidden evils of my heart 
            G               Em   C
And let the angry pow’rs of hell 
           Csus D        G
Assault my soul in ev’ry part

Verse five:
G              G/C            G
Yea, more with His own hand He seemed 
          Em  C        D
Intent to aggravate my woe
                G              Em   C
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed
           Csus D            G
Humbled my heart and laid me low

Verse six:
G              G/C                G
 “Lord, why is this,” I trembling cried
              Em C            D
“Wilt Thou pursue Thy worm to death?”
              G                Em   C
“’Tis in this way,” the Lord replied
          Csus D               G
“I answer prayer for grace and faith.” 

Verse seven:
G             G/C        G
“These inward trials I employ 
              Em  C             D
From self and pride to set thee free 
              G                  Em  C
And break thy schemes of earthly joy 
                 Csus D          G
That thou may’st find thy all in Me.”