Author Archives: hymnoftheday

Your Cross, O Lord

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Another hymn by a contemporary worship group – Joyful Noise. As a UK collective, their vision is to write songs from the Word, to the heart and for the church, so that God’s people might “come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him” (Psalm 95)1. This song was born out of the conviction that the cross lies not just at the heart of Christian belief, but also of our Christian lives day by day. The cross teaches us to know God, to humble ourselves, to truly love, and to praise joyfully through all circumstances; “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” – 1 Corinthians 2:2. This song would be a lovely addition to your church’s repertoire!

Your cross, O Lord, taught me to see
That though I fail you every day
Your steadfast love will not fail me
But gladly bears my sin away.
And there I see your holy fire
Consuming sin in mercy’s blood:
What righteousness and love require
To ransom sinners to their God.

Your cross, O Lord, taught me to weep
For there my sin led you away
And e’en the sun did bow in grief
As darkness crowned our darkest day.
And oh, to think that I once stood
Indifferent to your suffering!
And oh, to see your sweat like blood:
Such depths of sorrow borne for me!

Your cross, O Lord, taught me to love
For there I’ve tasted love divine,
It fills my heart with power enough
To make your costly service mine.
No sin too great to meet with grace,
No enemy too foul to bless.
Your love in wounds of sacrifice;
Teach me, O Lord, to love like this.

Your cross, O Lord, taught me to sing
For now my captive soul is free!
No guilt, no fear, no suffering
Can tear away your love from me!
No song can reach such heights of joy!
No tongue can tell such depths of peace!
No power, no time, can e’er destroy
The eternal praise for Calvary!

1joyful-noise.bandcamp.com/track/your-cross-o-lord-2

A Present Help

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Charlotte Elliott was the grand­daugh­ter of Hen­ry Venn, min­is­ter at Hud­ders­field, and au­thor of The Com­plete Du­ty of a Man, and friend and com­pan­ion of John Wes­ley. Char­lotte be­came an in­val­id around age 30, and re­mained so the rest of her life. About her phys­i­cal con­di­tion, El­li­ott wrote: “My Hea­ven­ly Fa­ther knows, and He alone, what it is, day af­ter day, and hour af­ter hour, to fight against bo­di­ly feel­ings of al­most over­pow­er­ing weak­ness and lang­uor and ex­haust­ion, to re­solve, as He en­a­bles me to do, not to yield to the sloth­ful­ness, the de­press­ion, the ir­ri­ta­bil­i­ty, such as a bo­dy caus­es me to long to in­dulge, but to rise ev­ery morn­ing de­term­ined on tak­ing this for my mot­to, If any man will come af­ter me, let him de­ny him­self, take up his cross dai­ly, and fol­low me”1. The below is included in “The In­va­lid’s Hymn Book”, and she also wrote the more well known hymn “Just As I Am”.

God of pity! God of love!
Send me comfort from above
Let not anxious thoughts perplex
Harrowing fears my spirit vex
Let me trust thee, and be still
Waiting patiently Thy will.

Though to weak short-sighted man
All uncertain seems each plan
Each event Thy will ordains
Fixed immutably remains
Not one link in life’s long chain
Can be lost, or wrought in vain.

All that chain, through bygone years
Woven in links of love appears
Not one storm of vengeful wrath
E’er has swept across my path
Why should fear o’er faith prevail?
Thy sure mercies cannot fail.

What are distance, time, or place
To that God who fills all space?
What are sea or land to Him?
Can the eye Omniscient dim?
Those we love, whate’er betide
Does that eye o’er them preside

Clinging to Thy strengthening arm
Thou wilt keep me safe from harm;
Thou wilt grant the hope that cheers
Will prove better than my fears;
Bid my sad misgivings cease
Guide me to my home in peace.

1hymnbook.igracemusic.com/people/charlotte-elliott

All Glory Be To Christ

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An original 16th Century Scottish tune during the time of the scattering of the Scots to American colonies, Dustine Kensrue wrote the words whilst flying to Seattle from Orange County. The idea is that—especially at the beginning of the new year—we would dedicate all our efforts to bringing glory to Jesus Christ, to acknowledge that anything else would be of no value, and to celebrate our redemption in him1.

Should nothing of our efforts stand
No legacy survive
Unless the Lord does raise the house
In vain its builders striveTo you who boast tomorrow’s gain
Tell me what is your life
A mist that vanishes at dawn
All glory be to Christ!

Refrain
All glory be to Christ our king!
All glory be to Christ!
His rule and reign we’ll ever sing,
All glory be to Christ!

His will be done
His kingdom come
On earth as is above
Who is Himself our daily bread
Praise Him the Lord of love

Let living water satisfy
The thirsty without price
We’ll take a cup of kindness yet
All glory be to Christ!

Refrain

When on the day the great I Am
The faithful and the true
The Lamb who was for sinners slain
Is making all things new.

Behold our God shall live with us
And be our steadfast light
And we shall ere his people be
All glory be to Christ!

Refrain

1genius.com/Kings-mhm-all-glory-be-to-christ-lyrics

Come Thou Almighty King

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The anonymous text dates from before 1757, when it was published in a leaflet and bound into the 1757 edition of George Whitefield’s Collection of Hymns for Social Worship. The text appears to mirror the pattern of the British national anthem, “God Save the King.” Filled with names for members of the Godhead, this song exhibits a common trinitarian structure, addressing God the Father (stanza 1), God the Son (stanza 2), and God the Holy Spirit (stanza 3), concluding with a doxology to the Trinity (stanza. 4)1. The version I have included below includes a refrain written by the worship group – a plea for the Holy Trinity to work in us.

Come, thou Almighty King,
Help us thy name to sing.
Help us to praise:
Father all glorious,
O’er all victorious,
Come and reign over us,
Ancient of Days.

Come, thou Incarnate Word,
Gird on thy mighty sword.
Our prayers attend.
Come, and thy people bless,
And give thy Word success
Spirit of holiness,
On us descend.

Come, Holy Comforter,
Thy sacred witness bear,
In this glad hour.
Thou, who almighty art,
Now rule in ev’ry heart,
And ne’er from us depart,
Spirit of Pow’r.

Added Refrain
Father now call, us out of our wandering.
Jesus now come, and cast out our fear.
Spirit now preach, the Son to our deafness:
Open our hearts, open our hearts.

To thee, great One in Three,
Eternal praises be
Hence evermore:
Thy sov’reign majesty,
May we in glory see,
And to eternity, love and adore.

Come Thou Almighty King – Advent Birmingham

1hymnary.org/text/come_thou_almighty_king_help_us_thy

Holy, Holy, Holy

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One of my favourite hymns, Holy, Holy, Holy was written by Yorkshire born poet and pastor Reginald Heber. Living in a time when English Romantic poetry was blossoming, he showed much skill in poetry writing, wining prizes for his poems in his teenage years. After ministering as a pastor for many years at a local parish, he moved to India, fuelled by his love for missions. Reginald died of a stroke at the 42 after preaching to a large crowd one afternoon in the hot sun; after his death, his widow discovered his hymns in a trunk, among which was this beloved song1.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
which wert and art and evermore shalt be.

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name in earth, and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

1 page 98 – Leeman, D. and Leeman, B., 2022. Our Hymns, Our Heritage: A Student Guide to Songs of the Church

Christ Be All

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This song was written by contemporary worship group Grace Music. When Kevin King, a worship leader, read the book Humility by Andrew Murray, he came across a poem in the final chapter of the book – this poem became the first verse of Christ Be All, written in 20191.

Oh, to be empty and lowly
Meek and unnoticed and unknown
And to God, a vessel Holy
Filled with Christ, and Christ alone

How great is God?
His grandeur endless
How frail I come before His throne
I am lost in love relentless
That Christ be all, and I his own

Refrain:
May Christ be all, and I be nothing
His glory shines in the vessels weak
May Christ be all, and I be nothing
This is my hope
Not I, but Christ in me
This is my hope
Not I, but Christ in me

I am poor, and I have nothing
All my deeds cannot avail
But Christ endured the Father’s crushing
He bowed His head as mercy bled
Peace to prevail
He bowed His head as mercy bled
Peace to prevail

Refrain

Bring me low, my heart lower still
That Your grace my pride relieves
May these words resound loud until
Every tribe and tongue believes

Bring me low, my heart lower still
That Your grace my pride relieves
May these words resound loud until
Every tribe and tongue can sing

Refrain

On golden shores of sure salvation
I will run to meet my King
Free from shame and all accusation
He’ll give Himself
Nothing I’ll bring
He’ll give Himself
Nothing I’ll bring

Chris Be All – Grace Music

1youtube.com/watch?v=7wfL6uEGtVc – accessed 1 October

Jesus, I Come

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The text was written by William True Sleeper, who was born in New Hampshire, on Feb. 9, 1819. Educated at Phillips-Exeter Academy, the University of Vermont, and Andover Theological Seminary, he became a Congregational minister following his graduation1. It’s said he wrote the words for ‘Jesus, I Come’, sending them to his friend George Stebbins for the accompanying music. It wasn’t the first time the two had collaborated – Stebbins had asked Sleeper some years earlier for words to match a tune he had in mind to invite seekers to commit to God. So, when William had the same idea years later (perhaps when he was in his late 60s), he knew who had the God-given talent to bring his poem to fruition in a song. William was still inviting people to come inside, out of many things obstructing their lives – the message we can imagine he spoke and then underscored in song2.

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.

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.

Out of unrest and arrogant pride,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into thy blessed will to abide,
Jesus, I come to thee.
Out of my self to dwell in thy love,
Out of despair into raptures above,
Upward for aye on wings like a dove,
Jesus, I come to thee.

Out of the fear and dread of the tomb,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into the joy and light of thy home,
Jesus, I come to thee.
Out of the depths of ruin untold,
Into the peace of thy sheltering fold,
Ever thy glorious face to behold,
Jesus, I come to thee.

Jesus, I Come – Shelly Moore Band
Jesus I Come – Indelible Grace Music

1hymnstudiesblog.wordpress.com/2014/04/21/jesus-i-come/

2songscoops.blogspot.com/2018/10/jesus-i-come-william-true-sleeper.htm

The Church’s One Foundation

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As a curate in the small town of Windsor, England, Samuel John Stone was aware of his parishioners’ habit of using the Apostles’ Creed in their private prayers. But he was concerned that many of them did not grasp the meaning of what they said. It was in this context that he wrote Lyra Fidelium, which consisted of twelve hymns, one for each article of the Apostles’ Creed. “The Church’s One Foundation” was the hymn he wrote for article 9 of the Creed in 1866, which affirms belief in “the holy catholic church” and “the communion of saints”1. Depending where you read/listen, you’ll find versions with more/less stanzas. I’ve posted what it seems to be the most common version, and my favourite song version too.

The church’s one foundation
Is Jesus Christ her Lord,
She is His new creation
By water and the Word.
From heaven He came and sought her
To be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her,
And for her life He died.

Elect from every nation,
Yet one over all the earth;
Her charter of salvation,
One Lord, one faith, one birth;
One holy Name she blesses,
Partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses,
With every grace endued.

Though with a scornful wonder
Men see her sore oppressed,
By schisms rent asunder,
By heresies distressed,
Yet saints their watch are keeping;
Their cry goes up, “How long?”
And soon the night of weeping
Shall be the morn of song.

The church shall never perish,
Her dear Lord to defend
To guide, sustain and cherish,
Is with her to the end
Though there be those that hate her,
And false sons in her pale
Against a foe or traitor,
She ever shall prevail

Mid toil and tribulation,
And tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation
Of peace forevermore;
‘Til, with the vision glorious,
Her longing eyes are blessed,
And the great church victorious
Shall be the church at rest.

Yet she on earth hath union
With God the Three in One,
And mystic sweet communion
With those whose rest is won.
O happy ones and holy!
Lord, give us grace that we
Like them, the meek and lowly,
On high may dwell with Thee.

1‘https://www.challies.com/articles/hymn-stories-the-churchs-one-foundation-free-download/

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

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In 1752, a young Robert Robinson attended an evangelical meeting to heckle the believers and make fun of the proceedings. Instead, he listened in awe to the words of the great preacher George Whitefield, and in 1755, at the age of twenty, Robinson responded to the call he felt three years earlier and became a Christian. Another three years later, when preparing a sermon for his church in Norfolk, England, he penned the words that have become one of the church’s most-loved hymns: “Come, thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace”1. Yet, he was an unstable man; impulsive, eccentric, and one whose heart often strayed from the Lord. But the God Who had saved him, called him, and longed after him, was the God who restored him, by his own hymn!2. The version I have linked is a beautiful version by Celtic Worship.

Come, thou Fount of every blessing,
tune my heart to sing thy grace;
streams of mercy, never ceasing,
call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount I’m fixed upon it
mount of God’s redeeming love.

Here I find my greatest treasure;
hither by thy help I’ve come;
and I hope, by thy good pleasure,
safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
wandering from the fold of God;
he, to rescue me from danger,
bought me with his precious blood.

Oh, to grace how great a debtor
daily I’m constrained to be!
Let thy goodness, like a fetter,
bind my wandering heart to thee:
prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
prone to leave the God I love;
here’s my heart, O take and seal it;
seal it for thy courts above.

1https://hymnary.org/text/come_thou_fount_of_every_blessing

2‘https://truthandtidings.com/2016/03/our-heritage-come-thou-fount/

I Asked the Lord that I Might Grow

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Former slave trader John Newton wrote this hymn in 1779. Although we do not know the exact reasons why we suffer just like Job, John Newton imagines what God would have us learn during these seasons. The version I have linked below is perhaps more sombre than a version you have heard before, but I feel it nicely fits the tone of the poem.

I asked the Lord that I might grow
in faith and love and ev’ry grace;
might more of his salvation know,
and seek more earnestly his face.

’Twas he who taught me thus to pray,
and he, I trust, has answered pray’r,
but it has been in such a way
as almost drove me to despair.

I hoped that in some favoured hour
at once he’d answer my request,
and by his love’s constraining pow’r
subdue my sins and give me rest.

Instead of this he made me feel
the hidden evils of my heart,
and let the angry pow’rs of hell
assault my soul in ev’ry part.

Yea more, with his own hand he seemed
intent to aggravate my woe,
crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
humbled my heart, and laid me low.

“Lord, why is this?” I, trembling, cried;
“Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death?”
“Tis in this way,” the Lord replied,
“I answer prayer for grace and faith.

“These inward trials I employ
from self and pride to set thee free,
and break thy schemes of earthly joy
that thou may’st find thy all in me.”