How can we be spiritually refreshed? There are many different answers to this important question. One great answer for me and many others is singing or listening to a familiar spiritual hymn or chorus. The following prayer chorus, “Spirit of the Living God,” written by Daniel Iverson, is so spiritually uplifting:

Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me. Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.

Melt me. Mold me. Fill me. Use me.

Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.

Recently, while singing this familiar chorus in a worship service, the thought came to me – What is this prayer request really saying? How many times we sing the music, but do we really get the message from the lyrics or words? What are we asking God to do for us?

We are asking God to bring His power to bear upon our lives over and over. The spirit of God can “fall afresh on us” if we let Him:

Melt us. God can melt the hard shell of our spirits. God’s unconditional love or grace can melt the hard shell of selfishness which can so easily take charge of our spirits. We need this kind of “meltdown” in order to be truly caring persons about others as well as ourselves.

mold us. God can mold or shape us into the person we need to be. As another prayer chorus says, “He is the potter, and we are the clay.” We must become pliable in His hands. This is just another way of affirming the life motto that works: “Let go, and let God.”

Fill us. There is so much emptiness in the hearts and lives of many people in our world today. They are empty because they have adopted the philosophy that accumulating things is the secret of a fulfilling life. Many people live a lifetime and never get it – -that God created things to be used and persons to be loved. God can fill us with the fruits of His Spirit: love , joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Use us. God can use us when we surrender to His goodness and purposes of His creation. We have the choice to make – to be a burden or a blessing to God and others.

Join me in singing this prayer chorus and making it the agenda of our lives. The end result is that we can be a blessing to others, bring glory to God, and be spiritually refreshed.

Dr. Curtis Coleman is emeritus dean and professor of religion and philosophy at Athens State University.