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Almost Persuaded
© Mary Elder-Criss
August, 2003

Almost persuaded, but not quite. Maybe today, Lord, I’ll give you my heart, but someone still needs to convince me of the benefits of it. I feel your call upon my life, Lord Jesus, but perhaps I will just wait a little longer, before I make that decision. Perhaps tomorrow, Lord, or perhaps next week, or perhaps after I take charge over a few strings that have been left untied. Perhaps after I clean myself up a little bit Lord, and just get my life straightened out some. Perhaps when I’m older, or richer, or stronger, or needier, or the kids have left home, or I’m more successful, or when I’m on my deathbed. Surely Jesus will wait. I’ve heard He is a merciful God.


“But Jesus, I was almost ready!!”

“I almost gave you my heart when I was a young girl, Lord, but then my friends said that it really didn’t apply to me after all.”

No response. Just the sound of pages turning, slowly.

“I almost came to you again, Lord after getting married, but my husband said that religion was just for weaklings, Lord, and he wouldn’t go with me.”

Silence reigns.

“Then, after I had my first child, I thought about going back to church, but it almost seemed to be a waste of time.” “I just figured you would wait.”

Parchment rattles, as again, the pages in the book turn.

“Then I considered it again a few years later, Lord, but I almost lost my job for asking for Sundays off, and well, we needed the money.”

Eyes view me sadly.

“After my grandmother died, Lord, I almost thought of you as someone I’d like to get to know, because she spoke so highly of you when she was alive. The words at her funeral almost had me convinced that I would see her again one day, if I just gave you my heart. You almost had me then, but well, then everyday life crept back in.....”

Sadly, His head slowly begins to shake from side to side.

Desperate, I cry out.....
“But Jesus....I was ALMOST persuaded!!!!”



“Almost persuaded” now to believe;
“Almost persuaded” Christ to receive;
Seems now some soul to say,
“Go, Spirit, go Thy way,
Some more convenient day
On Thee I’ll call.”

“Almost persuaded,” come, come today;
“Almost persuaded,” turn not away;
Jesus invites you here,
Angels are lingering near
Prayers rise from hearts so dear;
O wanderer, come!

“Almost persuaded,” harvest is past!
“Almost persuaded,” doom comes at last!
“Almost” cannot avail;
“Almost” is but to fail!
Sad, sad, that bitter wail
“Almost,” but lost!

Author: Philip P. Bliss, 1838-1876 Musician: Philip P. Bliss, 1838-1876


Acts 26:28
Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.


Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion. Hebrews 2: 15

Today, don’t let “Almost Persuaded” be your cry of despair.

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