Tag: calm

Sometimes an Anchor

Sometimes, it’s important to put down an anchor when the boat is fighting strong winds, turbulent waves, and moving off course.

We need anchors for our soul through turbulence, as well. Instead of reaching for something new, it’s powerful to reach for something old, tried, true through the course of time.

I’m talking about an old hymnal.

Voice of Praise Published 1947 by Broadman Press

I bought this old treasure at an antique store for $5.00. To me, it’s worth thousands or more.

Why?

Because each of these old spiritual songs and hymns has me think on things upright, noble, full of goodness, and true. These trustworthy thoughts wash my chaotic mind, . . . immediately.

Instantly, these songs of praise lift me above my circumstance, and hope and truth set me free.

Find a hymnal! Open its pages. Read aloud the rich, solid words.

When I open the pages and read titles and phrases, I’m changed.

Doxology & Crown Him with Many Crowns!

The first page of this treasure, Voice of Praise by Broadman Press, 1947 calms my raging mind with Crown Him with Many Crowns by Matthew Bridges and Doxology by Thomas Ken.

As the “nations rage and the people plot in vain” (Psalm 2),

We can regain focus on God through the rock, solid words of faith, hope, and truth in an old hymnal:

Crown him with many crowns,
the Lamb upon his throne.
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns
all music but its own.

Immediate refocus on the King of kings this anchor of hymns brings:
Awake, my soul, and sing
of him who died for thee,
and hail him as thy matchless king
through all eternity.

It’s true, if I think about the world and all its affairs without the proper balance of meditation on the Lord, I’m sunk in despair, sadness, and gloom. But this hymn of praise anchors my soul to remember, my life, no matter what, is in His hands:

Crown him the Lord of life,
who triumphed o’er the grave,
and rose victorious in the strife
for those he came to save;

He came to save all who would believe in the name of Jesus Christ. And for all who receive His great love and salvation:


his glories now we sing
who died and rose on high,
who died eternal life to bring,
and lives that death may die.

What glorious assurance this hymn of praise brings, “the death” of death.

This is why every believer can sing the Doxology with all their heart in the power of the Spirit:

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. (Thomas Ken.)

If you haven’t received Jesus in your life. He’s only a prayer away. He did the work on the cross. He paid each of our debts on the cross. You can be free and forgiven when you believe in Jesus. Talk with Him today. Open a hymnal, read the Bible and grow in His love and grace.

For those of us who believe, let’s keep our anchors in praise and focus on the Word of God.

Jesus is the anchor of our souls. Now. And forever. And, forever is a long time!

(My granddaughter had fun with some watercolors. I added some “notes” from my hymnal.)

“Dear Lord, keep of focused to praise You, in Jesus name. Amen.”

Toddler’s paint and notes to praise!

I pray today is the first day of the rest of your “eternal” life! Let someone know if you have asked Jesus to come into your life to make you new, today.

Help for the Restless Spirit: Be Still My Soul / Psalm 18

Music therapy, vibration of strings to move fretful waters of heart and mind plus the reading of God’s Word = rest, refreshment, revelation, revival.

When we draw near to God, He will draw near to us.

Take 3 minutes to meditate in a hymn and a psalm and discover the transforming hope and help of the Lord. He abides in our praise. Praise Him actively, today.

I write this for myself. I pray there is someone else that will be renewed in spirit and mind this day by actively meditating on the great and precious promises of God through these gems of the past:

When the restlessness of mind, body, and spirit overwhelms, there is power in the hymns and psalms. Be Still My Soul & Psalm 18 are heart and mind transforming.

This is recorded for one purpose alone, therapy. Do you know someone who might be feeling alone? Restless? Confused? Overwhelmed?

Consider sharing this meditation of hymn and psalm.

Be renewed, now. Meditating on the word and God’s truth rescues us.

Psalm 18.

I will love You, O Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.

4 The pangs of death surrounded me,
And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
5 The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.
6 In my distress I called upon the Lord,
And cried out to my God;
He heard my voice from His temple,
And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.

7 Then the earth shook and trembled;
The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken,
Because He was angry.
8 Smoke went up from His nostrils,
And devouring fire from His mouth;
Coals were kindled by it.
9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down
With darkness under His feet.
10 And He rode upon a cherub, and flew;
He flew upon the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness His secret place;
His canopy around Him was dark waters
And thick clouds of the skies.
12 From the brightness before Him,
His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire.

13 The Lord thundered from heaven,
And the Most High uttered His voice,
Hailstones and coals of fire.
14 He sent out His arrows and scattered [e]the foe,
Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them.
15 Then the channels of the sea were seen,
The foundations of the world were uncovered
At Your rebuke, O Lord,
At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.

16 He sent from above, He took me;
He drew me out of many waters.
17 He delivered me from my strong enemy,
From those who hated me,
For they were too strong for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
But the Lord was my support.
19 He also brought me out into a broad place;
He delivered me because He delighted in me.

20 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness;
According to the cleanness of my hands
He has recompensed me.
21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord,
And have not wickedly departed from my God.
22 For all His judgments were before me,
And I did not put away His statutes from me.
23 I was also blameless before Him,
And I kept myself from my iniquity.
24 Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness,
According to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.

25 With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful;
With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless;
26 With the pure You will show Yourself pure;
And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd.
27 For You will save the humble people,
But will bring down haughty looks.

28 For You will light my lamp;
The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.
29 For by You I can run against a troop,
By my God I can leap over a wall.
30 As for God, His way is perfect;
The word of the Lord is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

31 For who is God, except the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God?
32 It is God who arms me with strength,
And makes my way perfect.
33 He makes my feet like the feet of deer,
And sets me on my high places.
34 He teaches my hands to make war,
So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

35 You have also given me the shield of Your salvation;
Your right hand has held me up,
Your gentleness has made me great.
36 You enlarged my path under me,
So my feet did not slip.

37 I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them;
Neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed.
38 I have wounded them,
So that they could not rise;
They have fallen under my feet.
39 For You have armed me with strength for the battle;
You have [i]subdued under me those who rose up against me.
40 You have also given me the necks of my enemies,
So that I destroyed those who hated me.
41 They cried out, but there was none to save;
Even to the Lord, but He did not answer them.
42 Then I beat them as fine as the dust before the wind;
I cast them out like dirt in the streets.

43 You have delivered me from the strivings of the people;
You have made me the head of the [j]nations;
A people I have not known shall serve me.
44 As soon as they hear of me they obey me;
The foreigners [k]submit to me.
45 The foreigners fade away,
And come frightened from their hideouts.

46 The Lord lives!
Blessed be my Rock!
Let the God of my salvation be exalted.
47 It is God who avenges me,
And subdues the peoples under me;
48 He delivers me from my enemies.
You also lift me up above those who rise against me;
You have delivered me from the violent man.
49 Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles,
And sing praises to Your name.

50 Great deliverance He gives to His king,
And shows mercy to His anointed,
To David and his descendants forevermore.

“Today, today.” I hear Jesus call. Let’s hear His voice and take hold of all He is, (our Everything), and actively give Him praise that we might celebrate the victories He has for us, now and forever.