Author Archives: hymnoftheday

God Is Working His Purpose Out

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Today’s hymn is mission focused and comes from Arthur Campbell Ainger (1894-1919), a son of an Ang­li­can priest. He at­tend­ed Eton and Tri­ni­ty Col­lege, Cam­bridge (BA 1860, MA 1864), and became a schoolmaster at Eton from 1864-1901. He wrote the text (as well as numerous others) for use by the boys at Eton College. Dedicated to Edward W. Benson, Archbishop of Canterbury, the text was first issued as a leaflet and then published in the Hymn Book of the Church Missionary Society (1899)1. I’ve included below a traditional version and a modern rendition; I hope you enjoy this one!

God is working this purpose out,
as year succeeds to year;
God is working this purpose out,
and the time is drawing near;
nearer and nearer draws the time,
the time that shall surely be:
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.

From utmost east to utmost west,
where human feet have trod,
by the mouth of many messengers
goes forth the voice of God:
“Give ear to me, ye continents,
ye isles, give ear to me,
that the earth may be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.”

Let us go forth in the strength of God,
with the banner of Christ unfurled,
that the light of the glorious gospel of truth
may shine throughout the world.
Let us all fight with sorrow and sin
to set the captives free,
that the earth may be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.

All we can do is nothing worth
unless God blesses the deed.
Vainly we hope for the harvest-tide
till God gives life to the seed.
Yet nearer and nearer draws the time,
the time that shall surely be,
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.

1hymnary.org/text/god_is_working_his_purpose_out

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I Must Tell Jesus

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Today’s hymn is written by Elisha Hoffman (1839-1929), an American minister who wrote more than 2,000 gospel songs including “Leaning on the everlasting arms”. The story behind this hymn by the pastor-composer was told to another gospel composer, Charles Gabriel, in 1916: “While I was a pastor at Lebanon, Pa., I called one day at the home of a parishioner and found the lady in great distress and sorrow. Wringing her hands, she cried: “What shall I do—what shall I do?” I replied, “You cannot do better than to take it all to Jesus—you must tell Jesus.” For a moment she seemed abstracted in meditation, then her face glowed, her eyes lighted up, and with animation she exclaimed, “Yes, I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus!”1 I hope you too can tell all your burdens to Jesus; enjoy!

I must tell Jesus all of my trials;
I cannot bear these burdens alone;
In my distress He kindly will help me;
He ever loves and cares for His own.

Refrain
I must tell Jesus!
I must tell Jesus!
I cannot bear my burdens alone;
I must tell Jesus!
I must tell Jesus!
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.

I must tell Jesus all of my troubles;
He is a kind, compassionate friend;
If I but ask Him, He will deliver,
Make of my troubles quickly an end. [Refrain]

Tempted and tried, I need a great Savior,
One who can help my burdens to bear;
I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus;
He all my cares and sorrows will share. [Refrain]

O how the world to evil allures me!
O how my heart is tempted to sin!
I must tell Jesus, and He will help me
Over the world the vict’ry to win. [Refrain]

1hymnologyarchive.com/i-must-tell-jesus

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O Christ, What Burdens Bowed Thy Head!

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Today’s hymn comes from Anne Cousin (1824-1906). Anne was the daugh­ter of a doc­tor, and wife of Will­iam Cou­sin, pas­tor of the Free Church of Mel­rose, Scot­land. She con­trib­ut­ed ma­ny po­ems to va­ri­ous pe­ri­od­i­cals and four of her hymns were in­clud­ed in the 1876 Scot­tish Pres­by­te­ri­an Hym­nal. Gospel singer Ira Sankey shared this story regarding this hymn: “A young of­fi­cer in the Brit­ish ar­my turned away in hor­ror from the doc­trine of this hymn. His pride re­volt­ed, his self right­eous­ness rose in re­bell­ion, and he said: He would be a cow­ard in­deed who would go to heav­en at the cost of an­oth­er! As the years rolled away, this man rose to dis­tinc­tion and high rank in the ar­my, and he al­so learned wis­dom. In his last hours, as he lay on his death­bed, he re­peat­ed­ly begged those near him to sing O Christ, what burd­ens bowed Thy head, call­ing it, My hymn, my hymn!”1 Enjoy!

O Christ, what burdens bowed Thy head!
Our load was laid on Thee;
Thou stoodest in the sinner’s stead,
Didst bear all ill for me;
A Victim led, Thy blood was shed,
Now there’s no load for me.
A Victim led, Thy blood was shed,
Now there’s no load for me.

The curse of death was in our cup:
The cup was full for Thee;
But Thou hast drained the last dark drop,
And emptied it for me.
That bitter cup, love drank it up;
There is no curse for me.
That bitter cup, love drank it up;
There is no curse for me.

Jehovah raised the rod to smite;
The blow returned on Thee;
Upon Thy form did it alight,
And passed away from me;
Thy soul so white did wrath affright,
There is no wrath for me.
Thy soul so white did wrath affright,
There is no wrath for me.

The tempest’s awful voice was heard,
Its thunders broke on Thee!
Thy open bosom was my ward,
And it protected me;
Thy body scarred, Thy visage marred,
There is no storm for me.
Thy body scarred, Thy visage marred,
There is no storm for me.

For us, Lord Jesus, hast Thou died,
That we might die in Thee;
But Thou art raised and glorified,
And livest now in me;
Hell’s host defied! heav’n open wide!
There is no death for me.
Hell’s host defied! heav’n open wide!
There is no death for me

1hymntime.com/tch/htm/o/c/w/b/ocwbubth.htm#:~:text=As%20the%20years%20rolled%20away,%2C%20My%20hymn%2C%20my%20hymn!

Reformation Hymn

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Today’s hymn comes from a collaboration with Chris Anderson and Bob Kauflin from Sovereign Grace. “Written in 2017 to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation…the song highlights the 5 Solas of the Reformation—Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone), Sola Fide (faith alone), Sola Gratia (grace alone), Solus Christus (Christ alone), and Soli Deo Gloria (glory to God alone)—and gives a nod to the great hymn writer Martin Luther by pointing worshipers to Christ.”1 Enjoy!

We will trust God’s Word alone,
Where his perfect will is known;
Our traditions shift like sand
While his Truth forever stands.

We will live by faith alone,
Clothed in merit not our own;
All we claim is Jesus Christ
And his finished sacrifice.

Refrain:
Glory be, glory be to God alone,
Through the church he redeemed and made his own.
He has freed us, he will keep us till we’re safely home
Glory be, glory be to God alone!

We are saved by grace alone—
Undeserved, yet freely shown;
No accomplishment on earth
Can achieve the second birth.

We will stand on Christ alone,
The unyielding Cornerstone;
Nations rage and devils roar,
Still he reigns forevermore!

1churchworksmedia.com/product/reformation-hymn-free/

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I Saw One Hanging On A Tree

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Today’s hymn is a hymn by John Newton, often sung at Easter. This hymn tells so clearly of Christ dying for the one who sings it; yes it was our guilty sin that led Christ to the cross, but take heart, for through that death he saved our souls! I hope this can be your song today. Enjoy!

I saw One hanging on a tree,
In agony and blood;
He fixed His loving eyes on me,
As near His cross I stood.

Refrain:
O, can it be, upon a tree
The Savior died for me?
My soul is thrilled, my heart is filled,
To think He died for me!

Sure, never to my latest breath,
Can I forget that look;
It seemed to charge me with His death,
Though not a word He spoke. (Refrain)

My conscience felt and owned the guilt,
And plunged me in despair:
I saw my sins His blood had spilt
And helped to nail Him there. (Refrain)

A second look He gave, which said,
“I freely all forgive:
This blood is for your ransom paid,
I die that you may live.” (Refrain)

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Wonderful Grace of Jesus

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Today’s hymn comes from Haldor Lillenas (1885-1959). Newly married and setting up house with his young bride, Haldor Lillenas wondered how he was going to provide for his family after barely pulling together enough money to finish building their home. When a neighbor offered a dusty organ Haldor eagerly it and set about composing. As he settled into family life, he wrote many songs on that first, imperfect instrument. One of the early compositions Haldor wrote on that five-dollar organ was “Wonderful Grace of Jesus”. He wrote over 4,000 hymns in his lifetime and he went on to found his own music publishing company1. Enjoy this one!

Wonderful grace of Jesus,
greater than all my sin;
how shall my tongue describe it,
where shall its praise begin?
Taking away my burden,
setting my spirit free,
for the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

Refrain:
Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus,
deeper than the mighty rolling sea, 
higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain,
all sufficient grace for even me;
broader than the scope of my transgressions, sing it!
greater far than all my sin and shame.
O magnify the precious name of Jesus, praise his name!

Wonderful grace of Jesus,
reaching to all the lost,
by it I have been pardoned,
saved to the uttermost.
Chains have been torn asunder,
giving me liberty,
for the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me. [Refrain]

Wonderful grace of Jesus,
reaching the most reviled,
by its transforming power
making me God’s dear child,
purchasing peace and heaven
for all eternity,
for the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me. [Refrain]

1shereadstruth.com/wonderful-grace-of-jesus/

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I’m Not Ashamed To Own My Lord

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Today’s hymn is by Isaac Watts and tells of the one who is unashamed to be known as a follower of Christ. This hymn first appeared in his Hymns and Spiritual Songs in 1707. I hope these words can be your own today; enjoy!

I’m not ashamed to own my Lord,
Or to defend His cause;
Maintain the honor of His Word,
The glory of His cross.

Jesus, my God! I know His name,
His name is all my trust;
Nor will He put my soul to shame,
Nor let my hope be lost.

Firm as His throne His promise stands,
And He can well secure
What I’ve committed to His hands
Till the decisive hour.

Then will He own my worthless name
Before His Father’s face,
And in the new Jerusalem
Appoint my soul a place.

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O, The Bitter Shame and Sorrow

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Today’s hymn comes from Théodore Monod (1836-1921), who was the the son of a pastor in the French Reformed Church and later himself became a pastor in a Presbyterian church in America before returning to a French Reformed Church in Paris. I enjoyed reading this one as it details the journey of sanctification; I hope you can also resonate with it. Enjoy!

O, the bitter shame and sorrow,
That a time could ever be
When I let the Savior’s pity
Plead in vain, and proudly answered,
“All of self, and none of Thee!”1

Yet He found me; I beheld Him
Bleeding on th’ accursèd tree,
Heard Him pray, “Forgive them, Father!”
And my wistful heart said faintly—
“Some of self, and some of Thee!”

Day by day His tender mercy,
Healing, helping, full and free,
Sweet and strong, and, ah! so patient,
Brought me lower, while I whispered,
“Less of self, and more of Thee!”

Higher than the highest heavens,
Deeper than the deepest sea,
Lord, Thy love at last hath conquered:
Grant me now my supplication—
“None of self, and all of Thee!”

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More Love to Thee, O Christ!

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Elizabeth Payson Prentiss (1818-1878) was the fifth child of Congregationalist minister, Edward Payson. She began writing stories and poems, and contributed her works to “The youth’s companion”, a New England religious periodical. In 1838 she opened a small girls’ school in her home and took up a Sabbath-school class as well. Two years later, she moved to Richmond, VA, to be a department head at a girls’ boarding school. After a happy period in life, by 1852 she had lost two of her three children, one as a newborn, one at age four. However, she went on to have three more healthy children, despite her poor health. In 1856 she penned her hymn lyrics after she nearly lost her daughter, Minnie, to an illness. I hope after your trials in life, you can still say with Elizabeth “More Love to Thee, O Christ!”. Enjoy!

More love to Thee, O Christ, more love to Thee!
Hear Thou the prayer I make on bended knee.
This is my earnest plea: More love, O Christ, to Thee!
More love to Thee, more love to Thee!

Once earthly joy I craved, sought peace and rest;
Now Thee alone I seek, give what is best.
This all my prayer shall be: More love, O Christ to Thee;
More love to Thee, more love to Thee!

Let sorrow do its work, come grief or pain;
Sweet are Thy messengers, sweet their refrain,
When they can sing with me, “More love, O Christ, to Thee!
More love to Thee, more love to Thee!”

Then shall my latest breath whisper Thy praise;
This be the parting cry my heart shall raise,
This still its prayer shall be, “More love, O Christ to Thee!
More love to Thee, more love to Thee!”

1https://hymnary.org/person/Prentiss_Elizabeth

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Hope Beyond The Grave

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Today’s hymn comes from loved hymn writer John Newton. May these words be your hope today too; enjoy!

My soul, this curious house of clay,
Thy present frail abode,
Must quickly fall to worms a prey,
And thou return to God.

Canst thou, by faith, survey with joy,
The change before it come,
And say, “Let Death this house destroy,
I have a heavenly home?

“The Saviour, whom I then shall see,
With new admiring eyes,
Already has prepared for me
A mansion in the skies.

“I feel this mud-walled cottage shake,
And long to see it fall;
That I my willing flight may take
To him who is my All.

“Burdened and groaning then no more,
My rescued soul shall sing,
As up the shining path I soar,
‘Death, thou hast lost thy sting.’”

Dear Saviour, help us now to seek,
And grant thy Spirit’s power;
That we may all this language speak,
Before the dying hour

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