Author Archives: hymnoftheday

Lord Teach Us How To Pray

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Todays hymn writer John Samuel Bewley Monsell (1811-1875) was educated at Trinity College in Dublin and served as a chaplain and rector of several churches in Ireland after his ordination in 1835. Transferred to England in 1853, he became rector of Egham in Surrey and was rector of St. Nicholas Church in Guilford from 1870 until his death (caused by a construction accident at his church). His three hundred hymns, many celebrating the seasons of the church year, were issued in collections such as Hymns and Miscellaneous Poems (1837), Spiritual Songs (1857), Hymns of Love and Praise (1863), and The Parish Hymnal (1873). Enjoy turning this hymn into your prayer.

When cold our hearts, and far from Thee
Our wandering spirits stray,
And thoughts and lips move heavily,
Lord, teach us how to pray.

Too vile to venture near Thy throne,
Too poor to turn away;
Our only voice,–Thy Spirit’s groan,–
Lord, teach us how to pray.

We know not how to seek Thy face,
Unless Thou lead the way;
We have no words, unless Thy grace,
Lord, teach us how to pray.

Here every thought and fond desire
We on Thine altar lay;
And when our souls have caught Thy fire,
Lord, teach us how to pray.

All Glory, Laud and Honour

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Today’s hymn is from Theodulph of Orleans, written roughly 820. Charlemagne brought him from Spain to help him build schools and reform the clergy, where he also started to write hymns. Theodulph got caught up in a family dispute between Charlemagne’s son King Louis and Louis’s nephew King Bernard of Italy, where Louis thought he was conspiring with Bernard. He was then thrown into prison where he wrote the 78(!) verses of this hymn. It is said that King Louis freed Theodulph upon hearing him sing this hymn from outside the prison window. This hymn was then translated from Latin to English by John Mason Neale in 1854, who became part of a moment that researched Roman liturgy and hymnody for English use. Other hymns he translated were “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”, “Of the Father’s Love Begotten”, and “Good Christian Men, Rejoice”1. Enjoy!

All glory, laud, and honour
To Thee, Redeemer, King!
To Whom the lips of children
Made sweet Hosannas ring,

Thou art the King of Israel
Thou David’s Royal Son,
Who in the LORD’S name comest,`
The King and Blessèd One.

The people of the Hebrews
With palms before Thee went
Our praise and prayers and anthems
Before Thee we present.

To Thee before Thy Passion
They sang their hymns of praise;
To Thee now high exalted
Our melody we raise.

Thou didst accept their praises;
Accept the praise we bring,
Who in all good delightest,
Thou good and gracious King.

1 page 79 – Leeman, D. and Leeman, B., 2022. Our Hymns, Our Heritage: A Student Guide to Songs of the Church

All Sufficient Merit

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Today’s post is a modern song from The Worship Initiative, Initially founded by Shane & Shane as an online equipping resource for worship leaders and churches. It has since grown into a thriving community of singers, musicians, songwriters, and theologians seeking to help the Church worship God with music that is artistically compelling and scripturally sound. I really love this song that simply tells of the work that Christ did on the cross, sufficient to pay the debt we owed because of our sin – praise the Lord! Enjoy this one.

All sufficient merit
Shining like the sun
A fortune I inherit
By no work I have done
My righteousness I forfeit
At my Savior’s cross
Where all sufficient merit
Did what I could not

In love He condescended
Eternal now in time
A life without a blemish
The Maker made to die
The law could never save us
Our lawlessness had won
Until the pure and spotless
Lamb had finally come

Refrain
It is done it is finished
No more debt I owe
Paid in full all sufficient
Merit now my own

I lay down my garments
Any empty boasts
Good works all corrupted
By the sinful host
Dressed in my Lord Jesus
A crimson robe made white
No more fear of judgement
His righteousness is mine

Refrain

All sufficient merit
Firm in life and death
The joy of my salvation
Shall be my final breath
When I stand accepted
Before the throne of God
I’ll gaze upon my Jesus
And thank Him for the cross

Refrain

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Hymn of the Day / Youtube / Logos of Grace Prints

According To Thy Gracious Word

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Today’s hymn comes from James Montgomery and was published in six stanzas in The Christian Psalmist in 1825 under the subtitle ‘This do in remembrance of me,” Jesus’ words from Luke 22:19. Reflective and meditative, the text focuses on the memorial aspect of the Lord’s Supper–each stanza concludes with the word remember1. Enjoy this version by The New Scottish Hymns Band.

According to thy gracious word,
in meek humility,
this will I do, my dying Lord,
I will remember thee.

Thy body, broken for my sake,
my bread from heav’n shall be;
thy testamental cup I take,
and thus remember thee.

Gethsemane can I forget?
Or there thy conflict see,
thine agony and bloody sweat,
and not remember thee?

When to the cross I turn mine eyes,
and rest on Calvary,
O Lamb of God, my sacrifice,
I must remember thee.

Remember thee, and all thy pains,
and all thy love to me:
when thou shalt in thy kingdom come,
Jesus, remember me.

1hymnary.org/text/according_to_thy_gracious_word

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Plague Hymn

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Today’s hymn is from Swiss reformer Huldrych Zwingli. In August 1519, Zwingli was on a mineral-springs vacation when the Black Death broke out in Zurich. Though weak already from exhausting work, he hurried back to his city to minister to victims. Before long he himself caught the disease and seemed likely to perish. But his work not yet done, Zwingli recovered. His famous “plague hymn” recounts his sense of trust and then his joy at regaining health. Stanzas 1 and 2 were written as the disease first struck, stanzas 3 and 4 as his health deteriorated. Upon his recovery he finished the final 2 stanzas1. Enjoy!

Help me, O Lord,
My strength and rock;
Lo, at the door
I hear death’s knock.
Uplift thine arm,
Once pierced for me,
That conquered death.
And set me free.

Yet, if thy voice,
In life’s midday.
Recalls my soul,
Then I obey.
In faith and hope
Earth I resign.
Secure of heaven.
For I am thine.

My pains increase;
Haste to console;
For fear and woe
Seize flesh and soul.
Death is at hand.
My senses fail.
My tongue is dumb;
Now, Christ, prevail.

Lo! Satan strains
To snatch his prey;
I feel his grasp;
Must I give way?
He harms me not,
I fear no loss,
For here I lie
Beneath thy cross.

My God! My Lord!
Healed by thy hand.
Upon the earth
Once more I stand.
Let sin no more
Rule over me;
My mouth shall sing
Alone to thee.

Though now delayed,
My hour will come.
Involved, perchance.
In deeper gloom.
But, let it come;
With joy I’ll rise,
And bear my yoke
Straight to the skies.

1christianitytoday.com/history/issues/issue-4/black-death-inspires-zwinglis-plague-hymn.html

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God Your Everlasting Light

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Today’s hymn is another the Olney Hymns, first published in 1779, and is written by William Cowper. The hymn is based on the beautiful prophecy of Isaiah 60:15-20, spoken to God’s people in exile. It was noted by JR Watson that Cowper’s hymns feel like they are written by a fellow struggler, and that is true of this hymn – yet there is hope with eyes of faith. I hope you read and meditate on this one with eyes of hope today. Enjoy!

Hear what God the Lord has spoken 
“O my people, faint and few 
Comfortless, afflicted, broken 
Fair abodes I build for you 
Thorns of heartfelt tribulation 
Shall no more perplex your ways 
You shall name your walls Salvation 
And your gates shall all be Praise” 

There, like streams that feed the garden 
Pleasures without end shall flow 
For the Lord, your faith rewarding 
All His bounty shall bestow 
Still in undisturbed possession 
Peace and righteousness shall reign 
Never shall you feel oppression 
Nor hear the voice of war again 

See no more your sun’s descending 
Waning moons no more shall be 
But your griefs forever ending 
Find eternal noon in me 
God shall rise, and shining o’er you 
Change to day the gloom of night 
He, the Lord, shall be your glory 
God, your Everlasting Light

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Plant Your Word

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Today’s song is another instance of Spotify’s algorithm working in my favour. Describing themselves, they write of Grace Collective “In 2019 Matt and Joel, both worship pastors in southeastern Virginia at the time, became friends with a common passion for writing congregational worship music that blends contemporary style with theological depth.” I’ve really been enjoying the album Kingdom of Your Son, which are songs based on the Book of Colossians, which is where today’s song is from. Enjoy!

Lord plant your word deep in our hearts,
And may it richly dwell;
Make us like Jesus and less like ourselves.
Our soul sick with sin,
By your Word are made well;
Lord plant your word deep in our hearts,
And may it richly dwell.

Lord plant your word deep in our hearts,
To overflow with praise;
Grant us a new soul that sings of your faith,
Where melodies rise as we lift up your Name;
Lord plant your word deep in our hearts,
To overflow with praise.

Lord plant your word deep in our hearts,
With thankfulness renew;
For all that you are, for grace and for truth.
For your sacrifice, and our new life in you;
Lord plant your word deep in our hearts,
With thankfulness renew.

Plant your word within us Lord,
Sow a seed of faith and love;
May it grow, bear fruit and move in us,
Plant your word in us.

Our soul sick with sin,
By your Word are made well;
Lord plant your word deep in our hearts,
And may it richly dwell.

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Will Your Anchor Hold In The Storms of Life?

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“Will Your Anchor Hold” (sometimes titled “We Have an Anchor”) was written in 1882 by Priscilla Jane Owen. Owen was a Sunday school teacher at the Union Square Methodist Episcopal Churchin Baltimore, Maryland. She wrote a number of hymns and songs for her pupils; this is the best known today. The hymn has always been closely associated with the Boys’ Brigade which has the motto, “Sure and Stedfast”. It is the official hymn of Dollar Academy, an independent day and boarding school in Scotland, where it is known as the “Dollar Anthem”. The words were inspired by Hebrews 6:19: “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast…”, although other Biblical texts are also referenced in the verses of the hymn1. Ask yourself the same rhetorical questions before the Lord this morning and answer honestly “what is your anchor in life?”. I pray your answer will be the refrain of this song; enjoy!

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
when the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain,
will your anchor drift, or firm remain?

Refrain
We have an anchor that keeps the soul
steadfast and sure while the billows roll;
fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love!

Will your anchor hold in the straits of fear,
when the breakers roar and the reef is near?
While the surges rage, and the wild winds blow,
shall the angry waves then your bark o’erflow?

Refrain

Will your anchor hold in the floods of death,
when the waters cold chill your latest breath?
On the rising tide you can never fail,
while your anchor holds within the veil.

Refrain

Will your eyes behold through the morning light
the city of gold and the harbour bright?
Will you anchor safe by the heavenly shore,
when life’s storms are past for evermore?

Refrain

1wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Your_Anchor_Hold

Not What My Hands Have Done

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The famous Scottish preacher and hymn author Horatius Bonar (1808-1889) wrote this text, first published in his Hymns of Faith and Hope (2nd series, 1861). Bonar subtitled the text “Salvation through Christ alone,” and that is surely the theme of this wonderful hymn. Enjoy!

Not what these hands have done
can save this guilty soul;
not what this toiling flesh has borne
can make my spirit whole.
Not what I feel or do
can give me peace with God;
not all my prayers and sighs and tears
can bear my awful load.

Thy work alone, O Christ,
can ease this weight of sin;
Thy blood alone, O Lamb of God,
can give me peace within.
Thy love to me, O God, not mine,
O Lord, to Thee,
can rid me of the dark unrest,
and set my spirit free.

Thy grace alone, O God, 
to me can pardon speak;
Thy pow’r alone, O Son of God, 
can this sore bondage break.
I bless the Christ of God;
I rest on love divine;
and with unfalt’ring lip and heart,
I call this Saviour mine.

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All My Hope On God Is Founded

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This hymn was originally written in German around 1680 by Joachim Neander, author of the popular hymn “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”. In 1899, it was freely translated into English by Robert Bridges. He was, at the time, living in the British Berkshire village of Yattendon, where he was choir master for the parish church of St Peter and St Paul. Disappointed with the range of hymns available, he made his own collection which he entitled the Yattendon Hymnal and included this hymn, number 69 1. It was sung at the funeral service for Queen Elizabeth II last year – enjoy!

All my hope on God is founded;
he doth still my trust renew.
Me through change and chance he guideth,
only good and only true.
God unknown,
he alone calls my heart to be his own.

Human pride and earthly glory,
sword and crown betray his trust;
what with care and toil he buildeth,
tower and temple, fall to dust.
But God’s power,
hour by hour, is my temple and my tower.

God’s great goodness aye endureth,
deep his wisdom, passing thought:
splendour, light, and life attend him,
beauty springeth out of naught.
Evermore
from his store
new-born worlds rise and adore.

Daily doth th’ Almighty giver
bounteous gifts on us bestow;
his desire our soul delighteth,
pleasure leads us where we go.
Love doth stand
at his hand;
joy doth wait on his command.

Still from earth to God eternal
sacrifice of praise be done,
high above all praises praising
for the gift of Christ his Son.
Christ doth call
one and all:
ye who follow shall not fall.

1wikipedia.org/wiki/All_My_Hope_on_God_is_Founded