COME, LET US RETURN TO THE LORD[1]
Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. [2]
The call to repentance echoes throughout Scripture, reminding God’s people to turn from their ways and return to him. We are in constant need of seeking the Lord with a humble heart. This hymn [offers] words that encourage us to repent, trust in [the Lord], and embrace the grace that is ours in Christ.[3]
All we have like sheep gone astray,
Each of us has turned our own way;
But God laid all our wrongs,
Our sins upon the sinless One,
His only Son.
David Clarkson
We cry to you, God, for renewing grace. We lie at your footstool and cry, “Help, Lord, or else I perish!”
Create in me a new heart and renew a right spirit within me. Renew me in the spirit of my mind and renew me in my inner soul.
Take away this old mind that is so blind, so vain, so carnal. Take away this old will that is so obstinate, so perverse, so rebellious. Take away this old conscience that is so partial, so seared, so senseless. Take away this old heart that will never delight in, comply with, or submit to you. Let old things pass away, let all things become new. Lord, give me this new heart, put this new spirit into me.[4]
All who feel the sting of your sin,
Come and lift your eyes once again;
How great a price was paid
To save the souls of those who stray,
Yet still we stray.
Lewis Bayly
Create in me, O Christ, a new heart, and renew in me a right spirit. Then you will see how I will serve you as your new creature, in a new life, after a new way, with a new tongue and new manners, with new words and new works, to the glory of your name, and the winning of other sinful souls to your faith.
Keep me forever, O my Savior, from the torments of hell and tyranny of the devil. And when I am to depart this life, send your angels to carry me, as they did the soul of Lazarus, into your kingdom. Receive me into that joyful paradise you promised to the penitent thief, who at his last gasp upon the cross begged for your mercy and admission into your kingdom.
Grant this, O Christ, for your own name’s sake. I give you all glory, honor, praise, and dominion, both now and forever. Amen.[5]
See, no condemnation remains
For the soul that rests in his grace;
What promised joy awaits
All those who humbly call his name,
The name that saves.
Anima Christi
Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me. Blood of Christ, inebriate me. Water from the side of Christ, wash me. Passion of Christ, strengthen me. O good Jesus, hear me. Within thy wounds hide me. Permit me not to be separated from thee. From the wicked foe defend me. In the hour of my death call me, and bid me come to thee, that with thy saints I may praise thee forever and ever. Amen.[6]
God, we need your merciful hand.
Heal us from our pride, heal our land.
As we turn from our ways,
Oh, turn our hearts to you in praise,
To you in praise.
Almighty God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favor and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure conduct. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom, in thy Name, we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all of which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.[7]
Come, let us return to the Lord;
Come, now all his mercies remember;
What rest, what love now waits to welcome us,
Oh, come, let us return to the Lord.
Come, let us return, come, let us return
To the Lord.
Come, Let Us Return to the Lord
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Corinthians 4.15).
[1] Words and music: Matt Boswell, Michael Cochren, Matt Papa. Tune: COME, LET US RETURN
[2] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Is 55:6–7.
[3] Matt Boswell, The Sing! Hymnal, 2025, p. 914.
[4] David Clarkson, “A Cry for Renewing Grace,” in Piercing Heaven: Prayers of the Puritans, ed. Robert Elmer (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2019), 20–21.
[5] Lewis Bayly, “Create in Me a New Heart,” in Piercing Heaven: Prayers of the Puritans, ed. Robert Elmer (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2019), 26.
[6] Anglican Book of Common Prayer, 2019, p. 674.
[7] Prayer for Our Nation, Anglican Book of Common Prayer, 2019, pp. 657-658.
