Monthly Archives: Apr 2023

Glory be to God the Father

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This hymn was written by Horatius Bonar in 1866, and was published in his Hymns of Faith and Hope in 4 stanzas of 6 lines, and entitled “Praise.” It is included in several collections in Great Britain and America, in its original form. The last stanza is sometimes used as a doxology distinct from the hymn itself1. The hymn was written for an English Presbyterian Church hymn book. It is based on the 4th-century ‘conclusion’, Gloria Patri, known as the ‘Lesser Doxology’, sung at the end of psalms and canticles2.

Glory be to God the Father,
Glory be to God the Son,
Glory be to God the Spirit:
Great Jehovah, Three in One!
Glory, glory while eternal ages run!

Glory be to him who loved us,
Washed us from each spot and stain;
Glory be to him who bought us,
Made us kings with him to reign!
Glory, glory to the Lamb that once was slain!

Glory to the King of angels,
Glory to the Church’s King,
Glory to the King of nations;
Heav’n and earth your praises bring!
Glory, glory, to the King of glory sing!

Glory, blessing, praise eternal!
Thus the choir of angels sings;
Honour, riches, pow’r, dominion!
Thus its praise creation brings.

1hymnary.org/text/glory_be_to_god_the_father_glory_be_to
2music.churchofscotland.org.uk/hymn/110-glory-be-to-god-the-father

Hymn of the Day

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Commit Thou All Thy Griefs

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This hymn was written by Lutheran an famous author of Lutheran evangelical hymns, Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676), and was later translated by John Wesley. Gerhardt’s hymn is a Lutheran acrostic, and Wesley makes no attempt to follow that (the omission of stanzas, and the change of language, would have made it impossible). The translation was first published in Hymns and Sacred Poems in 1739, with the title ‘Trust in Providence. From the German.’ Gerhardt experienced much suffering in his life;­ he and his parishioners lived in the era of the Thirty Years’ War, and his family experi­enced incredible tragedy: four of his five children died young, and his wife died after a prolonged illness. In the history of hymnody Gerhardt is considered a transitional figure-he wrote at a time when hymns were changing from a more objective, confes­sional, and corporate focus to a pietistic, devotional, and personal one1. 

Commit thou all thy griefs
And ways into His hands,
To His sure truth and tender care,
Who earth and heaven commands.

Who points the clouds their course,
Whom winds and seas obey,
He shall direct thy wandering feet,
He shall prepare thy way.

Thou on the Lord rely,
So safe, shalt thou go on;
Fix on His work thy steadfast eye,
So shall thy work be done.

No profit canst thou gain
By self-consuming care;
To Him commend thy cause, His ear
Attends the softest prayer.

Thy everlasting truth,
Father, Thy ceaseless love,
Sees all Thy children’s wants, and knows
What best for each will prove.

Thou everywhere hast sway,
And all things serve Thy might,
Thy every at pure blessing is,
Thy path unsullied light.

1hymnary.org/text/commit_thou_all_thy_griefs

Hymn of the Day

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O Church, Arise

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This song is written by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty. It’s inspired by the many allusions of God’s church waging war – not against flesh and people, but against the sin that still dwells within us and the devil who desires to devour us. Praise God that in Christ and by the Spirit we have the guaranteed victory!

O Church, arise, and put your armour on;
Hear the call of Christ our Captain.
For now the weak can say that they are strong
In the strength that God has given.
With shield of faith and belt of truth,
We’ll stand against the devil’s lies;
An army bold, whose battle-cry is Love,
Reaching out to those in darkness.

Our call to war, to love the captive soul
But to rage against the captor;
And with the sword that makes the wounded whole,
We will fight with faith and valour.
When faced with trials on every side
We know the outcome is secure,
And Christ will have the prize for which He died,
An inheritance of nations.

Come see the cross, where love and mercy meet,
As the Son of God is stricken;
Then see His foes lie crushed beneath His feet,
For the Conqueror has risen!
And as the stone is rolled away,
And Christ emerges from the grave,
This victory march continues till the day
Every eye and heart shall see Him.

So Spirit, come put strength in every stride,
Give grace for every hurdle,
That we may run with faith to win the prize
Of a servant good and faithful.
As saints of old still line the way,
Retelling triumphs of His grace,
We hear their calls and hunger for the day
When with Christ we stand in glory.

Hymn of the Day

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Weary of Wandering From My God

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Charles Wesley composed this hymn text in 1749. All six stanzas were included in John Wesley’s hymnal, A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the People Called Methodists, 1780, under the section titled “For Backsliders Recovered.”1 This hymn would be a good prayer to mediate and pray through; even if now you are not in a state of wandering away from God, we have all willingly sinned against our great Saviour. It reminds us God’s grace towards us even in our rebellion. Pray the last stanza to the Lord today!

Weary of wandering from my God,
And now made willing to return,
I hear, and bow me to the rod;
For thee, not without hope, I mourn;
I have an Advocate above,
A Friend before the throne of Love.

O Jesus, full of truth and grace,
More full of grace than I of sin,
Yet once again I seek thy face;
Open thine arms, and take me in,
And freely my backslidings heal,
And love the faithless sinner still.

Thou know’st the way to bring me back
My fallen spirit to restore;
O! for thy truth and mercy’s sake,
Forgive, and bid me sin no more;
The ruins of my soul repair,
And make my heart a house of prayer.

The stone to flesh again convert,
The veil of sin again remove;
Sprinkle thy blood upon my heart,
And melt it by thy dying love;
This rebel heart by love subdue,
And make it soft, and make it new.

Give to mine eyes refreshing tears,
And kindle my relentings now;
Fill my whole soul with filial fears,
To thy sweet yoke my spirit bow;
Bend by thy grace, O bend or break,
The iron sinew in my neck!

Ah! give me, Lord, the tender heart
That trembles at the approach of sin;
A godly fear of sin impart,
Implant, and root it deep within,
That I may dread thy gracious power,
And never dare to offend thee more.

1umcdiscipleship.org/resources/weary-of-wandering-from-my-god

Jesus Cast A Look On Me

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John Berridge was born in 1716, and educated at Clare Hall, Cambridge. In 1749 he was ordained as curate to the parish of Stapleford, near Cambridge, and in 1755 he was give the Vicarage of Everton, where he died Jan. 22, 1793. His epitaph, written by himself for his own tombstone, is an epitome of his life. It reads: ” Here lies the remains of John Berridge, late Vicar of Everton, and an itinerate servant of Jesus Christ, who loved his Master and His work; and after running on His errands for many years, was caught up to wait on Him above. Reader! art thou born again? (No salvation without a new birth.) I was born in sin, February, 1716; remained ignorant of my fallen state till 1730; lived proudly on faith and works for salvation till 1754; was admitted to Everton Vicarage, 1755; fled to Jesus for refuge, 1755; fell asleep in Jesus, January 22,1793.”1 This hymn was a rewriting of Charles Wesley’s hymn “Lord, that I may learn of thee.”

Jesus cast a look on me,
Give me sweet simplicity
Make me poor and keep me low,
Seeking only Thee to know.

All that feeds my busy pride,
Cast it evermore aside
Bid my will to Thine submit,
Lay me humbly at Thy feet.

Make me like a little child,
Of my strength and wisdom spoiled
Seeing only in Thy light,
Walking only in Thy might.

Leaning on Thy loving breast,
Where a weary soul can rest
Feeling well the peace of God,
Flowing from His precious blood.

In this posture let me live,
And hosannas daily give
In this temper let me die,
And hosannas ever cry!

1hymnary.org/text/jesus_cast_a_look_on_me

Blessed Assurance 

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Fanny Crosby (1820-1915), blind at the age of six weeks, began composing hymns at age six. She became a student at the New York Institute of the Blind at age 15 and joined the faculty of the Institute at 22, teaching rhetoric and history. In 1885, Crosby married Alexander Van Alstyne, also a student at the Institute and later a member of the faculty. An author of more than 8,000 gospel hymn texts, she drew her inspiration from her own faith. When the tune composer Phoebe Palmer Knapp (1839-1908) played a melody to Fanny and asked, “What does the melody say to you?” Crosby replied that the tune said, “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!” and proceeded to recite the entire first stanza of the now-famous hymn1. I’m sure you have heard lots of versions of this hymn, but below is my favourite! What’s yours?

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour, all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour, all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour, all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour, all the day long.

Perfect submission, all is at rest
I in my Saviour am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour, all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour, all the day long.

1umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-blessed-assurance

Hymn of the Day

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Now Why This Fear and Unbelief (Faith Reviving)

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This hymn was originally written by August Toplady (1740), however has been updated and made popular by modern music group Sovereign Grace, with an added refrain and bridge. This is a great hymn to sing on days you take Communion at church to reflect on the sacrifice Christ made for our sins.

Now why this fear and unbelief?
Has not the Father put to grief
His spotless Son for us?
And will the righteous Judge of men
Condemn me for that debt of sin
Now canceled at the cross?

Refrain
Jesus, all my trust is in Your blood
Jesus, You’ve rescued us
Through Your great love

Complete atonement You have made
And by Your death have fully paid
The debt Your people owed
No wrath remains for us to face
We’re sheltered by Your saving grace
And sprinkled with Your blood

Refrain

Bridge
How sweet the sound of saving grace
How sweet the sound of saving grace
Christ died for me

Be still my soul and know this peace
The merits of your great high priest
Have bought your liberty
Rely then on His precious blood
Don’t fear your banishment from God
Since Jesus sets you free

Refrain

Hymn of the Day

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Immanuel (When Once I Mourned A Load Of Sin)

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Today’s hymn was written by well known preacher in 1853, Charles Spurgeon. I found this version on Soundcloud that I’m sure you’ll enjoy!

When once I mourned a load of sin;
When conscience felt a wound within,
When all my works were thrown away;
When on my knees I knelt to pray,
Then, blissful hour, remembered well,
I learned Thy love, Immanuel.

When storms of sorrow toss my soul;
When waves of care around me roll;
When comforts sink, when joys shall flee;
When hopeless griefs shall gape for me,
0ne word the tempest’s rage shall quell–
That word, Thy name, Immanuel.

When for the truth I suffer shame
When foes pour scandal on my name;
When cruel taunts and jeers abound;
When “Bulls of Bashan” gird me round,
Secure within Thy tower I’ll dwell–
That tower, thy grace, Immanuel.

When hell enraged lifts up her roar
When Satan stops my path before;
When fiends rejoice and wait my end
When legioned hosts their arrows send,
Fear not my soul, but hurl at hell,
Thy battle cry, Immanuel.

When down the hill of life I go;
When o’er my feet death’s waters flow;
When in the deep’ning flood I sink;
When friends stand weeping on the brink,
I’ll mingle with my last farewell
Thy lovely name, Immanuel.

When tears are banished from mine eye;
When fairer worlds than these are nigh;
when heaven shall fill my ravished sight;
When I shall bathe in sweet delight,
One joy all joys shall far excel,
To see Thy face, Immanuel.

Praise My Soul, The King of Heaven

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Born in Scotland and educated at Enniskillen and Trinity College in Dublin, Henry Francis Lyte’s (1793-1847) most significant appointment was as Anglican curate at Lower Brixham, Devonshire, England, where he served for 24 years. Lyte’s poetry earned him several honours. He wrote “Praise, My Soul, The King of Heaven” for his congregation. The hymn was first published in 1834, among a collection of three hundred hymns entitled “Spirit of the Psalms.” Unlike translations of the Psalms-commonly used in Psalters of that time-or paraphrases like those written by Isaac Watts, “Spirit of the Psalms” contained hymns that were simply inspired by the Psalms. A part of this collection, “Praise, My Soul, The King of Heaven” captured the “spirit” of Psalm 1031.

Praise, my soul, the King of heaven;
To His feet thy tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Who like me His praise should sing?
Praise Him, praise Him,
Praise Him, praise Him,
Praise the everlasting King.

Praise Him for His grace and favour
To our fathers in distress.
Praise Him still the same forever,
Slow to chide, and swift to bless.
Praise Him, praise Him,
Praise Him, praise Him,
Glorious in His faithfulness.

Frail as summer’s flower we flourish
Blows the wind and it is gone
But while mortals rise and perish
God endures unchanging on
Praise Him, praise Him,
Praise Him, praise Him,
Praise the high eternal One

Fatherlike He tends and spares us;
Well our feeble frame He Knows.
In His hands He gently bears us,
Rescues us from all our foes.
Praise Him, praise Him,
Praise Him, praise Him,
Widely as His mercy goes.

Angels help us to adore Him;
Ye behold Him face to face;
Sun and moon, bow down before Him,
Dwellers all in time and space.
Praise Him, praise Him,
Praise Him, praise Him,
Praise with us the God of grace.

1songsandhymns.org/hymns/detail/praise-my-soul-the-king-of-heaven

Hymn of the Day

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Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness

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This hymn was composed by Nicolaus Ludwig, Graf von Zinzendorf in 1739 and translated into English by John Wesley in 1740. This song speaks of the benefit of double imputation we have as Redeemed Christians – not only that Christ takes our sin, but that Christ’s righteousness is credited to us. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:21″ for our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God”. I’ve included a modern version, as well as a traditional version for you to enjoy, but the words alone will bring much joy in your heart!

Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness
My beauty are, my glorious dress;
’Midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed,
With joy shall I lift up my head.

Bold shall I stand in Thy great day;
For who aught to my charge shall lay?
Fully absolved through these I am
From sin and fear, from guilt and shame.

Thus Abraham, the friend of God,
Thus all the armies bought with blood,
Saviour of sinners, thee proclaim,
Sinners, of whom the chief I am.

This spotless robe the same appears
When ruined nature sinks in years;
No age can change its glorious hue.
The robe of Christ is ever new.

The holy, meek, unspotted Lamb,
Who from the Father’s bosom came,
Who died for me, e’en me to atone,
Now for my Lord and God I own.

Lord, I believe Thy precious blood,
Which, at the mercy seat of God,
Forever doth for sinners plead,
For me, e’en for my soul, was shed.

Lord, I believe were sinners more
Than sands upon the ocean shore,
Thou hast for all a ransom paid,
For all a full atonement made.

When from the dust of death I rise
To claim my mansion in the skies,
Ev’n then this shall be all my plea,
Jesus hath lived, hath died, for me.

Jesus, the endless praise to Thee,
Whose boundless mercy hath for me—
For me a full atonement made,
An everlasting ransom paid.

Thou God of power, Thou God of love,
Let the whole world Thy mercy prove!
Now let Thy word o’er all prevail;
Now take the spoils of death and hell.

O let the dead now hear Thy voice;
Now bid Thy banished ones rejoice;
Their beauty this, their glorious dress,
Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness.

Hymn of the Day

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