Charles Wesley - O My God, What Must I Do? Lyrics
Lyrics
1 O MY God, what must I do?
Thou alone the way canst show;
Thou canst save me in this hour,
I have neither will nor power:
God if over all thou art,
Greater than my sinful heart,
All thy power on me be shown,
Take away the heart of stone.
2 Take away my darling sin;
Make me willing to be clean;
Make me willing to receive
All thy goodness waits to give:
Force me, Lord, with all to part,
Tear these idols from my heart;
Now thy love almighty show,
Make even me a creature new.
3 Jesus, mighty to renew,
Work in me to will and do;
Turn my nature's rapid tide,
Stem the torrent of my pride,
Stop the whirlwind of my will,
Speak, and bid the sun stand still;
Now thy love almighty show,
Make even me a creature new.
4 Arm of God, thy strength put on,
Bow the heavens, and come down;
All my unbelief o'erthrow,
Lay the aspiring mountain low;
Conquer thy worst foe in me,
Get thyself the victory;
Save the vilest of the race,
Force me to be saved by grace.
Video
What shall I do my God to love? - Charles Wesley
Meaning & Inspiration
Charles Wesley's enduring hymn, "O My God, What Must I Do?", while centuries old, continues to resonate with profound spiritual urgency, finding renewed expression in modern compilations and interpretations, such as related Wesley works released in 2020. This particular composition stands as a timeless and powerful cry from the depths of human brokenness, a fervent prayer for divine intervention in the face of overwhelming sin and spiritual inability. It perfectly encapsulates the Wesleyan emphasis on personal conviction, the necessity of grace, and the transformative power of God in the life of a believer, moving far beyond mere theological declaration to an intimate, desperate plea for inner renewal.
The hymn opens with a stark admission of spiritual helplessness, immediately establishing its core message: humanity, left to its own devices, is utterly incapable of achieving salvation or true goodness. "O MY God, what must I do? Thou alone the way canst show; Thou canst save me in this hour, I have neither will nor power." This initial cry is a direct echo of the human condition described in Romans 7:18, where Paul confesses, "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not." The speaker recognizes God's absolute sovereignty and superior power, acknowledging Him as "greater than my sinful heart," a truth affirmed in 1 John 3:20, which reminds us that "God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything." The stanza culminates in a longing for a fundamental change of nature, praying for the removal of the "heart of stone," a vivid image from Ezekiel 36:26, where God promises to replace such a heart with one of flesh, responsive to His Spirit.
Building upon this foundational confession, the second stanza delves into the painful process of spiritual purification, specifically targeting those deeply ingrained patterns of sin we often cherish. The petition, "Take away my darling sin; Make me willing to be clean; Make me willing to receive All thy goodness waits to give," reveals an understanding that true repentance involves not just acknowledging sin, but actively desiring to be rid of it, even the most beloved transgressions. This struggle aligns with the biblical call in Colossians 3:5 to "put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature." The prayer intensifies, asking God to "Force me, Lord, with all to part, Tear these idols from my heart," recognizing the powerful grip these internal idols can have, as cautioned in 1 John 5:21. It's a plea for divine strength to overcome internal resistance, leading to a complete re-creation: "Now thy love almighty show, Make even me a creature new," reflecting the profound truth of 2 Corinthians 5:17, that "if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"
The hymn then directs its fervent appeal specifically to Christ in the third stanza, emphasizing His unique power to transform. "Jesus, mighty to renew, Work in me to will and do" is a powerful invocation, acknowledging Jesus' unchanging nature and limitless capacity, as described in Hebrews 13:8. This cry for Christ to "work in me" finds its parallel in Philippians 2:13, where we learn that "it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." The internal battle continues against pride and self-will, asking Christ to "Turn my nature's rapid tide, Stem the torrent of my pride, Stop the whirlwind of my will." This imagery powerfully conveys the overwhelming force of human ego and self-reliance, which must be subdued by divine authority, much like God quiets the storms of the sea, as depicted in Psalm 107:29, extending His dominion over the internal chaos of the human spirit.
Finally, the fourth stanza culminates in a powerful request for God's overwhelming and irresistible power to conquer the deepest spiritual enemies. "Arm of God, thy strength put on, Bow the heavens, and come down" are expressions drawn from Isaiah 51:9 and Psalm 18:9, evoking God's majestic and undeniable intervention. The prayer focuses on overcoming internal obstacles: "All my unbelief o'erthrow," recalling the desperate plea in Mark 9:24, "I believe; help my unbelief!" It asks God to "Lay the aspiring mountain low," mirroring the transformative vision of Isaiah 40:4. The hymn reaches its peak with the stunning declaration, "Conquer thy worst foe in me, Get thyself the victory," acknowledging the internal struggle against sin as God's own battle within the human heart, and praying for the triumph promised in 1 Corinthians 15:57. The profound humility of the speaker is evident in the confession, "Save the vilest of the race," echoing Paul's self-assessment in 1 Timothy 1:15. The concluding line, "Force me to be saved by grace," is particularly striking. It does not imply a violation of free will, but rather a desperate prayer for God to overcome all internal resistance, doubt, and pride that prevent a full and joyful reception of salvation. It is a plea for grace so powerful and compelling that it dismantles every obstacle within the human heart, enabling a complete surrender to the divine love and mercy offered freely, as articulated in Ephesians 2:8-9, where salvation is declared "by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works." This hymn, then, is not merely a request for help, but an impassioned, holistic surrender, trusting entirely in the omnipotent love and transformative power of God through Christ to accomplish what humanity cannot on its own. Its message remains an inspiring testament to the persistent human need for grace and the unfailing divine capacity to answer that call.