I have no idea who Betty Stam is, but I have discovered her prayer through Elisabeth Elliot’s Let Me Be a Woman. This prayer is one of humility and faith, one I would like to repeat every morning:
“Lord, I give up all my own plans and purposes, all my own desires and hopes, and accept Thy will for my life. I give myself, my life, my all utterly to Thee to be Thine forever. Fill me and seal me with Thy Holy Spirit. Use me as Thou wilt, work out Thy whole will in my life at any cost, now and forever.”
3 Comments
rebecca May 5, 2003 8:29 AM
this prayer is harder to pray this morning than it was april 30th. “all my own desires and hopes”? easier said than done… as always, application is the tough part!
Pat Jan 26, 2004 10:50 AM
This is a little late to be sure, but I too have been greatly touched by Betty’s prayer and would like to make it the theme of our upcoming Women’s Retreat. You may have this information already, but if not this is some of what I found. By just typing her name in the search box.
Betty Scott Stam was born in the United States but raised in China by missionary parents. During her childhood, she had a bout of what was then called “inflammatory arthritis” which left her with some health problems. Even as a child, she was very dedicated to Christ as evidenced by this poem, written at the age of 10:
I cannot live like Jesus
Example though He be
For He was strong and selfless
And I am tied to me.
I cannot live like Jesus
My soul is never free
My will is strong and stubborn
My love is weak and wee.
But I have asked my Jesus
To live His life in me
I cannot look like Jesus
More beautiful is He
In soul and eye and stature
Than sunrise on the sea.
Behold His warm, His tangible
His dear humanity.
Behold His white perfection
Of purest deity.
Yet Jesus Christ has promised
That we like Him shall be.
Betty came back to to the U.S. to attend college where she met her future husband, John. Both felt called to be missionaries in China and joined the China Inland Mission during the 1930’s. At that time, however, the Mission needed single men in remote areas and so the couple put off their marriage, sacrificing their personal feelings, so that John could work in that area. Eventually, they were reunited and married. Soon, God gave them a beautiful little girl.
During that period, China was experiencing fighting between the Communists, lead by Mao and the Nationalists, led by Chang. One day, they received word that the communist army might soon take over their city. John made arrangements for his wife and child to leave. But before they could, communists entered the city. The Stams were arrested and Betty was forced to watch as her husband was beheaded. Then, she, too, experienced the same fate. Their child’s life was saved by a Chinese pastor who put his own life on the line.
Betty Stam had meant it when she wrote:
Lord, I give up all my own plans and purposes
All my own desires and hopes
And accept Thy will for my life.
I give myself, my life, my all
Utterly to Thee to be Thine forever.
Fill me and seal me with Thy Holy Spirit
Use me as Thou wilt, send me where Thou wilt
And work out Thy whole will in my life at any cost now and forever.
Peggy Hart Mar 29, 2014 4:57 PM
What great inspirational prayers and poetry! Thank you for sharing them.