Tag: hymns

Our Valentine Promises

The true Valentine keeps promises to His own.

To all who receive Him, He makes their heart His home.

He is the Vine, our Valentine.

He asks that we abide and unite with His Word and fruit will come forth bringing glory to the Lord:

Speak aloud age-old hymns and be revived in the soul. Actively respond, and discover, it is so:

“Quicken’d by thee, and kept alive, I flourish and bear fruit; My life I from thy sap derive, My vigour from thy root. 

I can do nothing without thee; My strength is wholly thine: Wither’d and barren should I be, If sever’d from the vine. (1)

He is faithful. That we might trust Him more and more.

Faith grows as we hear His Letters of love. Ears that hear, with souls refreshed, as words are read of Jesus’ faithfulness:

“Come just as you are, for Jesus invites Poor sinners to share substantial delights: Ye weary and burden’d who happy would be, And wish to be pardon’d, come listen to me.”

“The ear of your heart if you will incline To you I’ll impart my fulness divine, Your souls by my Spirit made meet for the sky, The life shall inherit which never shall die.” (2)

Valentine comfort. Valentine hope. This is Jesus, to all whose heart will take hold.

“My precious Lord, for thy dear name I bear the cross, despise the shame; Nor do I faint while thou art near; I lean on thee; how can I fear?

No other name but thine is given To cheer my soul in earth or heaven; No other wealth will I require; No other friend can I desire.”

Yea, into nothing would I fall For thee alone, my All in All; To feel thy love, my only joy; To tell thy love, my sole employ.”(3)

He makes beauty from ashes. Will you join me in praise? His Name together, with thankful hearts, raise!

(1) From Spurgeon’s Devotional Bible

(2) From Spurgeon’s Devotional Bible

(3) From Spurgeon’s Devotional Bible

Picture Credit: LegacyandCo

Joy comes with the decision to praise!

Joyful, Joyful we adore Thee, God of glory Lord of love; Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee, Opening to the sun above. 

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; Drive the dark of doubt away; Giver of immortal gladness, Fill us with the light of day!

Making the choice to read aloud words penned by Henry van Dyke in 1907, allowing the strings of my vocal chords to vibrate the waters within my flesh,

I am changed.

Not completely at first, but my spirit is lifted from the hard, stale place it was, to a new and lifted height.

Only moments ago, my earthly thoughts had me overwhelmed,

But the melody of Beethoven and the rich poem add a breath and flight to my night terrors and fright.

“Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, drive the dark of doubt away.” Yes, Dear Lord, Almighty God of heaven, only You have supernatural power to do this for me.

Jesus, You willingly shed Your blood for me.”

The words I struggle to pray are enclosed in this glorious hymn,

Just for me! God is an intimate God.

I am brought to a place to give Him praise:

All the works with joy surround Thee, Earth and heaven reflect Thy rays; Stars and angels sing around Thee, Center of unbroken praise . . .

Thou art giving and forgiving. Ever blessing, ever blest, Wellspring of the joy of living, Ocean depth of happy rest!

The daily battle to go astray and forget to put off fret and put on a garment of praise.

My daily battles bring defeat when I become a victim of life’s circumstance. Confused, critical, provoked, and faith-less.

But God:

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble,” Psalm 46:1.
 
God’s word invokes praise. 
Praise, increases faith.
Increased faith brings victory and rest.
 

Mortals join the mighty chorus, Which the Morning Stars began. Father love is reigning o’er us, Brother love binds man to man. Ever singing, march we onward, Victors in the midst of strife; Joyful music lifts us sunward, In the triumph song of life.

Yes, let’s be changed from sadness and doubt. Let’s believe God’s promises and by a filling of His glorious Spirit, let’s shine bright.

Joyful, adoring our Christ Who saved our self destructive, anxious, sinful life.

He makes us gloriously new!

Hymn Therapy for an infusion of faith and renewed strength and direction

Hymn Therapy awakens the quiet spirit in the senior folk and they tap their feet and sing each word from memory when I, on occasion have to look at the lyrics to get them right.

Oh, the joy. And even more than that, what power.

Music has power. And add the doctrine and truth of the hymns and you’ve got healing, life, and energy being birthed before your eyes. Everyone in ear shot of the sounds are changed.

In need of breaking through a stressed and restless spirit, an increased tempo is played and then the story. This is actually Christian testimony, universal.

And I must admit, this medley is individually my Christian story.

You see, there comes that day when the heart is touched by the Lord and the decision is made to follow Jesus.

Choosing to give our back to the world and face to the cross gives us courage and strength against the temptations that come every day.

Pressing in closer to God and growing in His grace and knowledge of His precious Son brings relationship unlike any other we can obtain here on earth.

Jesus is a friend that sticks closer than a brother, (Proverbs 18:24).

What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.

Talking to Him through the day becomes a common occurrence.

But I will confess at this time, I fail often. I have let circumstance, and the reactions and responses of others to move me, especially in my home. I get discouraged, tired, and what seems, faith-less.

O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!

How we need infusion of hymn therapy at times like this.

The very act of singing the hymn gives opportunity for the heart to confess to God our weaknesses, which He already knows,

and  our spirit is quickened again to what’s most important—faith that is pleasing to the Lord.

Are we weak and heavy-laden, cumbered with a load of care?

Yes, we are.

Precious Savior, still our refuge.

Oh, how we forget, especially drowning under the load of care.

What happens? What do we do?

Take it to the Lord in prayer, In His arms He’ll take and shield us.

He leads us to the cross.

His willingness, His surrender, His gentleness.

Can we find a friend so faithful? Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness, Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Then our faith returns, we are healed in heart and God can once again use us to bear fruit.

I may fail, but my Lord is perfect. He is my help in times of trouble. Jesus knows our every weakness, we can take it to the Lord in prayer.

Will you decide now, to follow Jesus? Will you decide now, to follow Jesus? Will you decide now, to follow Jesus? No turning back, no turning back.

Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony.

 Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 

 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 

 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life  1John 5:10-12.

If you decide now, to follow Jesus, simply talk with Him about washing away your sin. He’s paid the debt in full.

Ask Him to fill you with His Spirit. In His arms He’ll take and shield thee, Thou wilt find a solace there.

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sin and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer.

Joseph M. Scriven, What a Friend We Have in Jesus, 1855.

Source Unknown, Folk Melody from India, I Have Decided to Follow Jesus.

 

 

A Moment’s Getaway, Like a River Glorious

Like a River Glorious

In the old church hymnal, Frances Havergal, paints a moving picture with song, yet with a constant under-girding of calm.

Like a river glorious, Is God’s perfect peace, Over all victorious In it’s bright increase;

Perfect, yet it floweth Fuller every day, Perfect, yet it groweth Deeper all the way.

Stayed upon Jehovah, Hearts are fully blest; Finding as He promised, Perfect peace and rest. 

Like a river glorious, is God’s perfect peace!
Hidden in the hollow Of His blessed hand, Never foe can follow Never traitor stand;

Not a surge of worry, Not a shade of care, Not a blast of hurry Touch the Spirit there.

“Then, like a river glorious I desire to be. Moving steadily on, Dear Lord, in trust of Your security. Hide me in the hollow of Your great hand, mighty.

Reliable and more.
This world spins out of control leaving me fatigued and confused. Take me the way I am. Move me, like a river glorious.

Transform me, because You can—through Your gracious and gentle Hand.

Perfect, yet it floweth Fuller every day, Perfect, yet it groweth Deeper all the way.

Peace. Rest. Victorious. Bright increase. Words speak. As the stars across the heavens at night. As an abundance of roses on a stem. Wherever I may be, Lord, let this hymn energize me to believe.”

Could it be? Words, lead me, to my refuge and help? The pages in a hymnal read aloud. A remedy constant to revive. I turn to it’s page. I find Rock of Ages, on the other side.

Rock of Ages, cleft for me let me hide myself in Thee.”

The Lord is speaking. He is ministering to me. Like a River Glorious, a Rock of Ages that I might hide. Two different pictures, bringing about a solid theme, that wherever I go, I am being held and protected from Fear and Anxiety, two of my greatest foes.

Peace came to this furious world. Willing to allow the water and the blood from His wounded side to flow. . .  His death gives life to me, and all the people of the world, who see.

Like a River Glorious.

These words are living. Hymns teach of hope! Refreshment and revival. “Stayed on Jehovah, hearts fully blest! Finding, as He promised, Perfect peace and rest!”

Moving forward, constant. Like a River Glorious. Yet, Stayed on Jehovah, our mighty God, Hidden in the hollow Of His blessed hand, Never foe can follow, Never traitor stand.

To this morning meditation, let all the people say, “Amen.”

In time of need: Hymn-Therapy

I had salvation, believing what Jesus did for me on the cross, but, at a time of sickness and dread, I opened a hymnal on the shelf.
“Be Still my Soul,” He spoke to me that day, “the Lord is on thy side.“(1)
His arm reach out in love and His hand took hold of mine. My Savior met me in the cold, dark hour and ministered life to me through a hymn.
“He is on my side.” My heart was revived.
The words ministered to me, the truth of His love and faithfulness, when all my mind kept rehearsing before, “Won’t He give me a break?”
I came to know the Lord with contemporary choruses of praise. Though God allowed great brokenness and loss within my life, He faithfully ministered greater light and life, and His presence in my time of need. I would never exchange a moment of it, not for anything.
This hymnal proved to be a treasure chest of hope, life, and promise. The Spirit moved me with increased faith as my mind thought on His  Almighty power.
Today, I write, in the face of a battle, with enemies of Overwhelmed and Fear, and Discouragement lurking. I find a Charles Wesley hymn written around the armor of God in Ephesians 6, published in 1749.
God’s therapy, or counseling session for me, is that my mind think on words like these:
Soldiers of Christ, arise,
And put your armor on,
Strong in the strength which God supplies
Through His eternal Son.
Strong in the Lord of hosts,
And in His mighty pow’r,
Who in the strength of Jesus trusts
Is more than conqueror.
“Strong in the strength which God supplies,” because He can clearly see, I am not strong, in and of myself, I am tired and weak. God counsels with direction that I must meet:
Stand then in His great might,
With all His strength endued,
And take, to arm you for the fight,
The panoply of God;
That, having all things done,
And all your conflicts passed,
Ye may o’ercome through Christ alone,
And stand entire at last.
I will admit, the word panoply was not in my vocabulary, so I looked it up. The dictionary spelled it out in this way:

pan·o·ply
noun
1. a complete or impressive collection of things.
2. a splendid display.
3. a complete set of arms or suit of armor.
“Stand then in His great might,” yes, I must take hold and clothe myself with all that’s true, and the collection of “armor” God has equipped us with.
We don’t “wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rules of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6, KJV, speaks solid and clear of who our real enemy is. We must fight and remember Who it is that is with us handing us all we need to win:
“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (2)
The hymn inspires and exhorts. Actively reaching out a Hand to pick me up:
Leave no unguarded place,

No weakness of the soul,
Take every virtue, every grace,
And fortify the whole.
From strength to strength go on,
Wrestle and fight and pray,
Tread all the pow’rs of darkness down
And win the well-fought day.
Yes, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” (3) This is it! This is my therapy session with a hymn. This is direction, hope and how I will keep a sound mind.
I will speak this hymn and clothe myself with the armor of God that the faith God increases in me can pass any test. How about you? Has this hymn touched you?
Let us praise God before the “Red Sea is parted.” Let us praise God ever-more. To God be the glory, Strong in the strength which God supplies
Through His eternal Son.
Strong in the Lord of hosts,
And in His mighty pow’r,
Who in the strength of Jesus trusts
Is more than conqueror. 
(1) Katharina A. von Schlegel, 1752
(2) Ephesians 6:14-17, NIV.
(3) Ephesians 6:18.
 

From a sigh to praise, read aloud hymns from yesterday

When my mind needs to be renewed, with a good theme. I open up before my eyes, very old hymns published in 1845. Hope, finds it’s place again, my countenance changes, and my heart becomes light.
Who wants a song of sighs anyway? We need God to change our melodies. Tell me, if you agree, these words written long ago, spoken aloud, or sung, have power to change our sighs into praise. They bring to the Psalm a powerful paraphrase.
(There’s an interesting note, in Psalms, Hymns, Spiritual Songs, of the Rev. Isaac Watts, D.D. 1845. It has included  a letter in front of the hymn’s stanzas for some “Direction for Expression.” For example, P means Slow and soft, and E for simply soft. The letter G means to produce a reading Slow and loud.
(p 1  directs for a slow and soft reading), My God, how many are my fears? How fast my foes increase!—Conspiring my eternal death, They break my present peace.
e 2 The lying tempter would persuade, There’s no relief in heaven; And all my swelling sins appear too big to be forgiven.
—3 But thou, my glory and my strength, Shalt on the tempter tread; Shalt silence all my threatening guilt, And raise my drooping head. 
e 4 I cried, and from his holy hill He bowed a listening ear; I called my Father and my God; And he subdued my fear. (1)
We have in this present day, similar feelings of fear and dread, but the unchanging God is the same always, “bowing a listening ear.” How comforting to know the God we love, cares.
Let the words of Psalm 3 ring well in our hearts. In this dark world of sadness, God gives us His word to express the great struggles.

Lord, how they have increased who trouble me!
Many are they who rise up against me.
 Many are they who say of me,
“There is no help for him in God.” Selah (2)

 Amplified inserts: “pause, and think of that.”

5He shed soft slumbers on mine eyes, In spite of all my foes; I ‘woke and wondered at the grace, That guarded my repose.
g 6( to be read slow and loud),  What though the host of death and hell, All armed, against me stood; Terrors no more shall shake my soul; My refuge is my God.
Speak it, believe it. Faith helps us to face it all. Psalm 3 will end our devotion with a victor’s call:
But You, O Lord, are a shield for me,
My glory and the One who lifts up my head.
 I cried to the Lord with my voice,
And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah
“Pause, and think of that!”
(1) C.M. Canterbury of Psalm 3, in Psalms, Hymns, Spiritual Songs, of the Rev. Isaac Watts, D.D. 1845.
(2) Psalm 3, NKJV.
 

United sound brings a sweet fragrance/ Amazing Grace

Common knowledge learned, in the reach to smell a rose is, “Every rose has its thorns.”
“Ouch!”
How this world with vast beauty and joy, is also sharp and prickly. It punctures and so often, brings about so much more than a “whine”.
Yet,”For God so loves the world.”
How can it be? There are days I can’t “love” anything.
I feel so far from smelling the roses. The “thorns” seem to be, like weeds, surrr-rrrou-nnn-ding.
The darkness of nursery rhymes come to the surface, “Ring around the rosie, a pocket full of posies. Ashes, ashes, we all fall down.”
“Whoever wrote these rhymes anyway? Though the origins are argued, we must believe, it was a day of “thorns” in a struggle to smell the rose.
Common knowledge. Community. Comforts and joy in the reciting. Children gather, hand in hand. Going around and ’round, making familiar sounds. “Ashes, ashes, we all fall down.”
Amidst dark clouds, and thoughts of ashes – being together, gathering around, common words chimed – heaviness dashes.
“Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I’m found. Was blind but now I see.”
The song is sung and we all join along, even if the tone is completely wrong. The melody flows from all lips with a smile. In full agreement, hearts receive the gracious love God freely gives.
There’s no strife when hearts unify. There’s no disagreement in the “wretch” that we each be. The thirst seems quenched. The heart instantly warmed.
The smell of roses comes vibrantly alive, when we put sound on our voice and in a common hymn sing! This is where God abides. This is where He dwells. We can all agree. Yes, we agree and somehow our blindness is made to flee:
“‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.”
As if time stops. Glory invites. “For God,” gave His Son, that we might overcome. The song, is sung. And we agree together, and sing along:
“Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.”
Jesus can turn water to wine. Jesus can heal. Jesus can restore. The fragrance of joy is smelled. Let us put sound on our voice. And join together and sing.
Let us unify. Let us give thanks. Let us worship our King.
“Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God!”
 

Boastful In One Thing Alone/To God be the Glory

Not boastful about family, yet full of joy, love, and pride. Our family is a gift from God, shared and loaned to each of us for a time.
Not boastful in our talents, or all of our great powers:  To think. To sing. To run fast, to draw.
To create. To figure. To fly. To build high towers. Not boastful in any of these things at all. These are gifts given to us by the great and Almighty God.
Instead – Let us boast and give glory to Him. It is high time we give glory to One who is worthy. We seek God. We desire Him. Let us open His Book and receive His whole Story.
“To God be the glory, great things He hath done, So loved He the world that He gave us His Son, . . . ” (1)
Boastful in one thing and one thing alone: the cross that the Son of God endured for each and everyone.
For God so loved the world, yesterday and today. Even for all who hate Him and despise Him, the cross He endured.
Who yielded His life our redemption to win,
And opened the life-gate that all may go in.
The Place of the Skull, where there stood the cross. Oh, perfect redemption, the purchase of blood, To every believer the promise of God;
Not only one, but of crosses, there were three. And the story is read, of the choices of the thieves:
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.
To God be the glory, great things He hath done,
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son.
Boastful today about the cross alone. We’ve been redeemed, yes, bought by the Son, who paid for all the damages brought on by our sin.
Oh, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory; great things He hath done.
We must not boast for ourselves, in a gift that is given. Let’s give God the glory He so wonderfully deserves.
Those who fear man will be fearful in this. But in these last days, let us boast in Christ – let us be of the courageous.
Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport when Jesus we see.
Jesus laid down His life that we might have it abundant. Living water for our thirst. Daily Bread for our hunger. His Spirit indwelling when we believe on the cross. The Father so loves that He gave His own Son.
On thing we must boast in, let us boast in the cross.
This old hymn brought out to the light was written by a woman who was completely blind. Fanny Crosby’s fingers wrote thousands of hymns. God allowed blindness in her life, only to give her incredible sight.
“To God be the Glory,” one hymn out of many, has perhaps even today, opened some eyes that were blind – to see. Let’s give God praise:
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice;
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice;
Oh, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory; great things He hath done.
(1) To God Be the Glory. Fanny Crosby (1820-1915).
 
 
 

A Shelter in the Time of Storm

  ‘A Shelter in the Time of Storm’.
A hymn written by Vernon J. Charlesworth sometime in the 1880’s, has power to change worry to calm. Oh the power of the hymn, if we only knew these words as they did back when:
A Shelter in the Time of storm: “The Lord’s our Rock, in Him we hide, A shelter in the time of storm; Secure whatever ill betide, A shelter in the time of storm.”
“O Jesus is a Rock in a weary land, A weary land, a weary land; O Jesus is a Rock in a weary land; A Shelter in the time of storm.”
“A shade by day, defense by night, A shelter in the time of storm; No fears alarm, no foes affright, A shelter in the time of storm.
“The raging storms may round us beat, A shelter in the time of storm; We’ll never leave our safe retreat, A shelter in the time of storm.”
“O Rock divine, O Refuge dear, A shelter in the time of storm; Be Thou our helper ever near, A shelter in the time of storm. O Jesus is a Rock in a weary land, A weary land, a weary land; O Jesus is a Rock in a weary land; A shelter in the time of storm!”
Thank you Vernon J. Charlesworth for your pen, that chose to write, way back when, so my heart and mind can think of this, and speak these words that bring about peace.
A hymn, so powerful to bring a calm. Rich in truth and and a healing balm. God’s word, a sword against our foe, can be our help when the storm rages so:  “You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.” Psalms 32 verse seven. Do I make the choice to receive this in faith? Do I take hold of the truth, so that I might finish the race?
God gave us choice. What then? Do we stop and be still so we can hear Him? Oh, the struggle. Oh, the fight. Our very natures resist being still! We want to ‘get back’ we want to ‘be right!’
‘Pause and think quietly upon all of this.’ “Selah” is the remedy for quiet bliss: Psalm 32 verse seven is written, that I might open it up to seek God’s face in heaven.
‘Even though we may walk in the valley of the shadow of death we will fear no evil,’ because ‘in Him’ we reside.  He is a Shelter in the Time of storm, and  – in Him – we hide!
“Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you ,again” and again,  “it is a safeguard for you.” (Philipians 3:1, emphasis, mine.)
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”  (Let us choose to cling to God’s word at this time), Philippians 4:4, is our key to remember that the Lord is watching, the Lord can hear, the Lord knows everything – and yes, He is near!
‘He knows our frame. He knows we are dust’ (1). He knows we need forgiveness. He knows all the mess. He is Sovereign, …
He is Omniscient, …
He is Omnipotent.
Turn to Him,  for salvation, One time is enough, but moment by moment, draw near to Him – for power and strength and a refuge in the storm. He is Love, He is Able, He is the LORD.
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -… 
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things… and the God of peace will be with you.” Phillipians  Four, 8 and 9. God’s word, and hymns and Psalms are divine, full of supernatural strength for all time.
Today, do you choose to take refuge in Him? Moment by moment, call out His name. He hears, He guides, and He calls you to come, to take refuge under the shadow of His loving arms. “Come to Me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28; God’s word, a refuge for us.
“The raging storms may round us beat, A shelter in the time of storm; We’ll never leave our safe retreat, A shelter in the time of storm.”
“O Rock divine, O Refuge dear, A shelter in the time of storm; Be Thou our helper ever near, A shelter in the time of storm. O Jesus is a Rock in a weary land, A weary land, a weary land; O Jesus is a Rock in a weary land; A shelter in the time of storm!”
May these words become well-worn. Thank you Vernon J. Charlesworth for ‘A shelter in the time of storm’. But most of all, thank you Jesus, for Your righteous right arm!
(1) Psalm 103:14.

  • * * * *

 
 

Casting cares with worship and praise

“Please pray…!””Please pray…!” So many requests come our way,
and our heart says, “Yes, I will pray, I will pray, now and today- that God will move, that God will comfort, that God will be all that He IS to you. He is a very present help in times of trouble, so we ask Him, “Dear Lord be all that You are!”
And He says, “I AM.” “Be Still.”
So, I stop and read some poems written long ago, as my heart today feels so heavy-and my mind just can’t focus- but the words help me pray- I then cast all my cares upon You:
“God counts the sorrows of his saints, Their groans affect His ears; Thou hast a book for my complaints, A bottle for my tears.” 
“When to thy throne I raise my cry, The wicked fear and flee: So swift is prayer to reach the sky; So near is God to me.”
“In Thee, most holy, just and true, I have reposed my trust; Nor will I fear what man can do, The offspring of the dust.” (Poem by CH Spurgeon).
How I can see your face so much clearer, tis true, when I repeat the words that have been written about You:
“Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night, Jesus, I come, Jesus I come. Into Thy freedom, gladness, and light, Jesus, I come to Thee. Out of my sickness, into Thy health, Out of my want and into Thy wealth. Out of my sin and into Thyself, Jesus, I come to Thee.” (Jesus, I Come by William T. Sleeper).
“Out of my shameful failure and loss, Jesus, I come; Jesus, I come. Into the glorious gain of Thy cross, Jesus, I come to Thee….
...Out of earth’s sorrows into Thy balm, Out of life’s storms and into Thy calm. Out of distress to jubilant psalm, Jesus, I come to Thee.” (Jesus, I Come by William T. Sleeper).
Praying with spiritual poems and hymns, and the word of God increases faith:
“When I am afraid I will trust in You. In God, Who’s word I praise. In God I trust.”(Psalm 56:3,4).
“I bow towards thy mercy-seat: Haste, Lord, thy servant haste to meet, To thee, addressed, my sorrows rise; Lord, bend thine ear, accept my cries.”
“O let my prayer before thee come, Sweet as the censer’s fragrant fume; And may the hands, which thus I rear, An evening sacrifice appear!” (poem by C.H. Spurgeon).
“O lead me to the Rock That’s high above my head! And make the covert of thy wings My shelter and my shade. Within they presence, Lord, For ever I’ll abide: Thou art the tower of my defense, The refuge where I hide.” (Poem by C.H. Spurgeon).
“A shade by day, defense by night, A shelter in the time of storm; No fears alarm, no foes affright, A shelter in the time of storm. O Jesus is a Rock in a weary land, weary land, a weary land. O Jesus is a Rock in a weary land; A Shelter in the time of storm.” (Hymn by Vernon J. Charlesworth, 1880).
Words written so long ago, for me today…that I might pray.