Today’s hymn comes from Charles Spurgeon, published in his ‘Our Own Hymn Book’, a collection of Psalms and hymns he complied for his own congregation. If anyone has a recording of this, please do send through! In the meantime, enjoy reading this one.
Behold, O LORD, my days are made A handbreadth at the most; ‘Ere yet ’tis noon my flow’r must fade, And I give up the ghost.
Then teach me, Lord, to know mine end, And know that I am frail; To heav’n let all my thoughts ascend, nd let not earth prevail.
What is there here that I should wait, My hope’s in Thee alone; When wilt Thou open glory’s gate And call me to Thy throne?
A stranger in this land am I, A sojourner with Thee; Oh be not silent at my cry, But show Thyself to me.
Though I’m exiled from glory’s land, Yet not from glory’s King; My God is ever near at hand, And therefore I will sing.
Today’s hymn is written by British organist and composer Benjamin Mansell Ramsey (1849 – 1923). This one is a hymn you’ll want to store away for days when you’re struggling to pray, due to the hymn’s simplicity and expressed desire to walk in the way of the Lord. Enjoy!
Teach me thy way, O Lord; teach me thy way! Thy guiding grace afford; teach me thy way! Help me to walk aright, more by faith, less by sight; lead me with heav’nly light; teach me thy way!
When I am sad at heart, teach me thy way! When earthly joys depart, teach me thy way! In hours of loneliness, in times of dire distress, in failure or success, teach me thy way!
When doubts and fears arise, teach me thy way! When storms o’erspread the skies, teach me thy way! Shine thro’ the cloud and rain, thro’ sorrow, toil, and pain; make thou my pathway plain; teach me thy way!
Long as my life shall last, teach me thy way! Where’er my lot be cast, teach me thy way! Until the race is run, until the journey’s done, until the crown is won, teach me thy way
Today’s hymn is another by Isaac Watts. In 1715, he published a collection of hymns, Divine Songs Attempted in Easy Language for the Use of Children. The collection was dedicated to the young daughters of Thomas Abney, the patron who had given Watts a place to live after the onset of his poor health. This hymn was the most enduring from the collection, and was headed “Praise for creation and providence”1. Enjoy!
I sing the mighty power of God, That made the mountains rise, That spread the flowing seas abroad, And built the lofty skies. I sing the wisdom that ordained The sun to rule the day; The moon shines full at His command, And all the stars obey.
I sing the goodness of the Lord, That filled the earth with food: Who formed the creatures with His Word, And then pronounced them good. Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed, Where’er I turn my eye, If I survey the ground I tread, Or gaze upon the sky!
There’s not a plant or flower below, But makes Thy glories known; And clouds arise, and tempests blow, By order from Thy throne; Creatures, as numerous as they be, Are subject to Thy care; There’s not a place where we can flee, But God is present there.
In Heaven He shines with beams of love, With wrath in hell beneath: ‘Tis on His earth I stand or move, And ’tis His air I breathe. His hand is my perpetual guard, He keeps me with His eye: Why should I then forget the Lord, Who is for ever nigh?
Today’s song comes from one of my favourite British worship groups, Joyful Noise. Of their EP ‘Our Sure Foundation’, they write that this is a “five track EP of congregational songs that celebrate the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the rock upon which we stand, the sure foundation of our lives”. Amen, and you would do well to encourage others to look to Jesus with this song; enjoy!
Jesus we place into Your hands The things we cannot do We lack the strength to walk in Your ways, O Lord we cry out to You Every godly hope and dream Lie far beyond our reach Lord in our striving help us to seek The grace that meets every need
Refrain Jesus we give to You The things we cannot do We turn away from our own strength O Lord we turn to You
Jesus we place into Your hands This cross we cannot bear We lack the strength to carry its weight O Lord we cry out in prayer! Is Your grace enough for us? You promised it is so Lord in our hurting send from above Your strength for our trial below [Refrain]
Jesus we place into Your hands The unseen days ahead Fearful they seem but You know all things And never have failed us yet Jesus it’s enough for us To know You know the way Lord in our waiting help us to trust Your will for each passing day [Refrain]
Today’s hymn is from German Reformer Martin Luther, who based his version from the hymn ” Jesus Christ, Our Salvation” (English translation) which is often attributed to John Huss. It’s a hymn celebrating communion, written in 1524. Whether or not you hold Luther’s view of the Eucharist, we would all do well to ponder these words before we come to the Lord’s Table. Enjoy!
Jesus Christ, our blessed Saviour, turned away God’s wrath forever; by his bitter grief and woe he saved us from the evil foe.
As his pledge of love undying, he, this precious food supplying, gives his body with the bread and with the wine the blood he shed.
Jesus here himself is sharing; take heed how you are preparing, for if you do not believe, judgment instead you shall receive.
Useless would be Jesus’ passion if salvation you could fashion. Do not come if you suppose you need not him who died and rose.
Christ says, “Come, all you that labour, and receive my grace and favour; those who feel no pain or ill need no physician’s help or skill.”
Then hold fast with faith unshaken that this food is to be taken by the souls who are distressed, by hearts that long for peace and rest.
Praise the Father, who from heaven unto us such food has given and, to mend what we have done, gave into death his only Son.
Today’s hymn comes from the father of English hymnody, Isaac Watts. The power of hymns is shown in a story when Presbyterian minister Ichabod Spencer (1798-1854) was attempting to tell a young lady who attended his evening lectures of her need to repent and believe the gospel. Although she assented to all he said, Ichabod mentioned that she felt that these truths however, seemed to be ineffectual, causing her to remain in her unsaved state. He visited her again weeks later, letting her know that all he could do was tell her this truth of her need for repentance and to put her faith in Jesus for forgiveness of her sins. That evening in the lecture she attended, he read this hymn. It seems the Lord worked in her heart, making the truth plain to her through these words and causing her to fully repent and finally putting her trust in Jesus1. Praise God for using this hymn! Maybe there’s someone you could share it with too? Enjoy!
There is a voice of sovereign grace Sounds from the sacred word: “Ho, ye despairing sinners, come, And trust upon the Lord.”
My soul obeys th’almighty call, And runs to this relief; I would believe Thy promise, Lord, Oh, help my unbelief!
To the dear fountain of Thy blood, Incarnate God, I fly; Here let me wash my sinful soul From crimes of deepest dye.
A guilty, weak, and helpless one, On Thy kind arms I fall; Be Thou my strength and righteousness, My Jesus, and my All.
For those of you who listen to modern Christian music, I’m sure you’re aware that Sovereign Grace’s new album “Knowing God” was recently released. This album is based on the influential book of the same title by J.I. Packer, to commemorate 50 years. This song, in my humble opinion, is the best song for congregational singing on the album. It’s full of so much scriptural references (as are all of their songs), but it has a very easy rhyming scheme, can be played with just one instrument, and has no difficult vocal runs or riffs. I have had this one on repeat and I’m sure you will too; enjoy!
Christ our wisdom, we are humbled When You hide Your ways from us You have purposes unnumbered Each one good and glorious Help us trust when we grow weary Free us from our anxious thoughts Give us grace to see more clearly You are God and we are not
Christ our wisdom, be our gladness When we fail to understand You ordain all joy and sadness To fulfill Your perfect plan Help us know You rule with power Over every raging flood In our most uncertain hour |You are God and we are loved
Christ our wisdom, we will follow Though the way ahead is veiled As we journey through the shadows Grant us faith where sight has failed Help us cling to Your commandments Strengthened by Your faithful Word We will never be abandoned You are God and we are Yours
Christ our wisdom we adore You For the beauty of the cross Once in foolishness we scorned You But Your blood has ransomed us Help us sing the endless mercies Of Your humble heart to save Christ our wisdom, Christ our glory You are God forever praised
Hi friends, I’m back with the daily hymns, kicking off today with this great hymn of exhortation by Irish churchman and hymn writer Thomas Kelly (1806). He also wrote one of my favourites ‘Look, ye saints, the sight is glorious’. I’m sure you’ll enjoy meditating on this one!
Also for those who have asked how you can support this site, feel free to buy me a coffee. This will help fund my coffee shop trips where I write these posts 🙂 Enjoy!
Praise the Saviour, ye who know Him! Who can tell how much we owe Him? Gladly let us render to Him all we are and have.
Jesus is the name that charms us; He for conflict fits and arms us; nothing moves and nothing harms us while we trust in Him.
Trust in Him, ye saints, forever; He is faithful, changing never; neither force nor guile can sever those He loves from Him.
Keep us, Lord, O keep us cleaving to Thyself, and still believing, till the hour of our receiving promised joys with Thee.
Then we shall be where we would be, then we shall be what we should be; things that are not now, nor could be, soon shall be our own.
Over the last few weeks, although I haven’t been posting (see my last post for details), I have gained quite a few new subscribers. Welcome friends, and I hope you have been blessed by the backlog of hymns and song on the site, just as I have.
It’s great to see new subscribers because since life has opened up more space and time to me, I am hoping, Lord willing, to return to regular posting again! So please do stick around, and suggest hymns and songs through the contact form at the top of the page. Until then, I have come across this hymn from 1881 by Scottish minister and hymn writer Horatius Bonar, which is just lovely. It’s written for communion, and is a wonderful hymn to mediate on before the Lord’s Day. Also below is a modern rendition by Indelible Grace; enjoy!
On merit not my own I stand; On doings which I have not done, Merit beyond what I can claim, Doings more perfect than my own.
Upon a life I have not lived, Upon a death I did not die, Another’s life, Another’s death, I stake my whole eternity.
Not on the tears which I have shed: Not on the sorrows I have known, Another’s tears, Another’s griefs, On them I rest, on them alone.
Jesus, O Son of God, I build On what Thy cross has done for me; There both my death and life I read, My guilt, my pardon there I see.
Lord, I believe; oh deal with me As one who has Thy word believed! I take the gift, Lord look on me As one who has Thy gift received.
I taste the love the gift contains, I clasp the pardon which it brings, And pass up to the living source Above, whence all this fullness springs.
Here at Thy feast, I grasp the pledge Which life eternal to me seals, Here in the bread and wine I read The grace and peace Thy death reveals.
O fullness of the eternal grace, O wonders past all wondering! Here in the hall of love and song, We sing the praises of our King.
Hi friends! The time has come for me to have to say goodbye for now. As much as I have enjoyed sharing these wonderful hymns, it’s often felt more of a burden to share them because of the other priorities I have in my life at the moment of being a wife and a mother. I hope to one day share again these hymns that I’ve come to love. But for now, I’ll be refocusing my attention on other areas in life that God would have me prioritise.
It is fitting then that the last hymn for the foreseeable future is ‘God Be With You Till We Meet Again’ by Jeremiah Rankin (1828-1904). It was written as a Christian good-bye; deliberately composed as a Christian hymn on the basis of the etymology of “good-bye,” which means “God be with you”. God be with you all!
God be with you till we meet again; loving counsels guide, uphold you, may the Shepherd’s care enfold you; God be with you till we meet again.
Refrain: Till we meet, till we meet, till we meet at Jesus’ feet. Till we meet, till we meet, God be with you till we meet again.
God be with you till we meet again; unseen wings, protecting, hide you, daily manna still provide you; God be with you till we meet again. [Refrain]
God be with you till we meet again; when life’s perils thick confound you, put unfailing arms around you; God be with you till we meet again. [Refrain]
God be with you till we meet again; keep love’s banner floating o’er you, smite death’s threat’ning wave before you; God be with you till we meet again. [Refrain]
Hymn of the Day 