Moving forward. Victors in the midst of strife. How? Are there many remedies? Many people are going through a very difficult time of loss. Others suffer physical pain everyday. There are financial stresses.
Where is the light for each passing moment? Is there a present help in times of agony of spirit?
Yes, it’s the song. The song of praise to God. Is God distant, far off in the heavens? No . . . The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit Psalm 34:18.
And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart Jeremiah 29:13.
Do we want to be victors in the midst of strife? Yes! With all our heart, we must believe God’s promises.
Speaking the hymns ignites increased faith. This 1907 Henry Van Dyke hymn, Joyful, Joyful we Adore Thee, gives a spiritual lift to be victors in the midst of strife.”
The heart strings come alive when our vocal chords speak, (sing), and recite these powerful phrases:
Joyful, joyful, we adore You,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before You,
Op’ning to the sun above.
Convicting can be these words as well. Do I adore the Lord? Have I forgotten His precepts? Are they on some dusty shelf? Why should I praise?
Let’s never forget:
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
and with my song I praise him Psalm 28:7.
“Lord, increase our faith this day,” we pray.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day.
Your Word, Your testimonies are light to us:
Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
You Lord, are the Light. We are changed when we speak in hymns and spiritual songs. The Lord abides in our praises.
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God Psalm 42:5.
And again,
Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God Psalm 42:11.
Yes, Jesus Himself cried out “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Mark 15:34. He is of complete understanding to all our sorrows. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
Suddenly our focus is no longer on any loss or pain, our focus is moved to God, who is the God of all comfort, of gracious love and mercy, yet risen and alive.
He is all powerful and able:
All Your works with joy surround You,
Earth and heav’n reflect Your rays,
Stars and angels sing around You,
Center of unbroken praise;
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flow’ry meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain
Praising You eternally!
Our discouraged hearts say, “never and no-body,” But the hymn reminds us, with God:
Always giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, ever blest,
Well-spring of the joy of living,
Ocean-depth of happy rest!
Loving Father, Christ our Brother,
Let Your light upon us shine;
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the joy divine.
We are reminded the promises of the Christmas story to the surface, when the angel said to Mary in Luke 1:37,
“For with God nothing will be impossible.”
And in another translation, “For no word from God will ever fail.”
This is what lifts us to the joy divine!
Will we choose to praise? To lift our voice, even aloud, and join the chorus?
Mortals, join the mighty chorus,
Which the morning stars began;
God’s own love is reigning o’er us,
Joining people hand in hand.
Ever singing, march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife;
Joyful music leads us sunward
In the triumph song of life.
When we keep ourselves in the Love of God with praise on our lips, we are victors every time. In the midst of strife, we triumph in His songs of life!
Chorus practice? Yes! The Joyful music will lead us . . . Sonward.
“Thank you Jesus for Your faithfulness, yesterday, today, and forever. In Jesus name, Amen.”