Today’s words for this sung Psalm 146 comes from the 1872 Scottish Psalter that was adopted by the United Presbyterian Church in Scotland. Below is a sweet family singing the traditional tune as well as Indelible Grace’s retuned version; enjoy!
Hallelujah, praise Jehovah, O my soul, Jehovah praise; I will sing the glorious praises Of my God through all my days. Put no confidence in princes, Nor for help on man depend; He shall die, to dust returning, And his purposes shall end.
Happy is the man that chooses Israel’s God to be his aid; He is blest whose hope of blessing On the Lord his God is stayed. Heaven and earth the Lord created, Seas and all that they contain; He delivers from oppression, Righteousness He will maintain.
Food He daily gives the hungry, Sets the mourning prisoner free, Raises those bowed down with anguish, Makes the sightless eyes to see, Well Jehovah loves the righteous, And the stranger He befriends, Helps the fatherless and widow, Judgment on the wicked sends.
Hallelujah, praise Jehovah, O my soul, Jehovah praise; I will sing the glorious praises Of my God through all my days. Over all God reigns forever, Through all ages He is King; Unto Him, thy God, O Zion, Joyful hallelujahs sing.
Today’s song I happily came across on Youtube and loved the words. This collection of musicians and singers is called Forever Be Sure and they note “our goal is to provide creative Christian music that allows the listeners to hear the truth of the Bible and be drawn to greater worship, love and obedience to Christ1“. In their own words, people have described their style as “fresh”, “energetic”, and perhaps even “Disney like”. But don’t let that put you off! If the style of music is not one you listen to regularly, I am sure you will be left edified and encouraged by their rich biblical lyrics. This acapella song I listened to over and over again; enjoy!
Many those who seek to know the Father’s will; Their searching seems unending and, yet, they seek it still. Hoping not to miss it, like passing stars at night, Eagerly they wait for revelation’s light. Yet, if they only knew, that he who has God’s Word Need never be unknowing, no endless search endure. For all that God desires, His will for you and me, Is found within the Bible; we find it written clearly.
You desire quietness and meekness of my soul. You desire peaceful thoughts that trust in Your control. You desire lowliness that quickly condescends. You desire gentleness and words that help to mend. You want me, without ceasing, to pray a constant prayer. You want my cheerful giving, of my rich bounty share. You want me to be willing, my brother’s burden bear. This, this is the will of God.
Hands are quick to labour, feet are quick to go; Many the accomplishments that wearied hands may show. But do not be mistaken to think a task fulfilled Is all that God desires, all that God would will. His purposes go far beneath what human eyes can see And, much more than achievements, He wants the inward me. To take a wretched heart and make it like His own Is just the way that He desires to make His glories known.
You desire truthfulness that flows from deep inside. You desire thankfulness for all things all the time. You desire eagerness to pardon each offense. You desire readiness, my enemy to bless. You want my works of service to flow from selfless love. You want all my affection to be set on things above. You want my heart’s contentment that says, “I have enough.” This, this is the will of God.
You desire faithfulness in duties big and small. You desire tenderness to heed the Spirit’s call. You desire hopefulness that seeks the good to find. You desire lovely thoughts to dwell within my mind. You want a heart of gladness in service of the King. You want me long enduring through all my suffering. You want my body daily to be my offering. This, this is the will of God.
Today’s hymn comes from Joseph Hart (1712-1768). His early life, according to his own words which he prefaced to his collection of published hymns, was a mixture of loose conduct, serious conviction of sin, and attempts to change his life. It was not until 1757 did he realise a permanent change, which was brought about mainly through his attending the Moravian Chapel, in Fetter Lane, London, and hearing a sermon on Revelations 3:10. During the next two years many of his most earnest and impassioned hymns were written1. He also wrote the popular “Come ye sinners, poor and wretched [needy]”. Interestingly before his conversion, he wrote a tract denouncing Christianity called “The Unreasonableness of Religion, Being Remarks and Animadversions on the Rev. John Wesley’s Sermon on Romans 8:32“2. Knowing that, this hymn seems even more precious; enjoy!
God’s mercy is for ever sure; Eternal is his name; As long as life and speech endure, My tongue this truth proclaim.
I basely sinned against his love, And yet my God was good; His favour nothing could remove, For I was bought with blood.
That precious blood atones all sin, And fully clears from guilt; It makes the foulest sinner clean, For ’twas for sinners spilt.
He raised me from the lowest state, When hell was my desert; I broke his law, and, worse than that, Alas! I broke his heart!
My soul, thou hast, let what will ail, A never-changing Friend; When brethren, friends, and helpers fail, On him alone depend.
Today song is a rewrite of the hymn I shared yesterday by Samuel Medley. It’s by Cornerstone Music Ministry from Cornerstone Bible Church, Katy, Texas. They have a a great biblical music ministry that I encourage you to check out. They have two recorded versions of this song, but I really love the acapella version. Enjoy!
Assist my soul, my heavenly King Thy everlasting love to sing; And joyful spread thy praise abroad, As one, through grace, that’s born of God.
No, it was not the will of man My soul’s new heavenly birth began; No will no power of flesh or blood That turned my heart from sin to God.
Refrain Praise the lord For his grace to me Praise the lord O my soul Praise the lord for the Spirit’s work My soul is born of the Triune God
Herein let self be all abased, And sovereign love alone confessed; This be my song through endless days, I’m born again, may God be praised [Refrain]
O may this love my soul constrain To make returns of love again; That I, while earth is my abode, May live like one that’s born of God. [Refrain]
And when the appointed hour shall come, That thou wilt call me to my home, I’ll joyful pass the chilling flood, And die as one who’s born of God.
Then shall my soul triumphant rise To it’s blessed mansion in the skies; And in that glorious bright abode, I’ll see as one that’s born of God [Refrain]
Today’s hymn comes from Samuel Medley (1738-1799). He was well educated as a young boy in a school his father kept, but after he did not like the business he was being apprenticed in, Medley joined the British Royal Navy in 1755. He was wounded badly and had to take leave; while he recuperated, someone read him a sermon by Isaac Watts, leading to his conversion. He left the navy and studied for the ministry becoming a Baptist minister and hymn writer1. Enjoy!
Awake, my soul, in joyful lays, And sing thy great Redeemer’s praise; He justly claims a song from me; His loving-kindness, O how free!
He saw me ruined in the fall, Yet loved me notwithstanding all; He saved me from my lost estate; His loving-kindness, O how great!
Though numerous hosts of mighty foes, Though earth and hell my way oppose, He safely leads my soul along; His loving-kindness, O how strong!
When trouble, like a gloomy cloud, Has gathered thick and thundered loud, He near my soul has always stood; His loving-kindness, O how good!
Often I feel my sinful heart Prone from my Saviour to depart; But though I have him oft forgot, His loving-kindness changes not!
Soon shall I pass the gloomy vale; Soon all my mortal powers must fail; O may my last expiring breath His loving-kindness sing in death!
Then let me mount and soar away To the bright world of endless day, And sing with rapture and surprise, His loving-kindness in the skies.
The words for today’s hymn comes from 4th century church father Ambrose of Milan. It is one of the oldest hymns still in use today in many churches. Zac Hicks notes “the teachings of Arius (c. 250-336 a.d.) had spread, leading not a small amount of Christians to doubt Jesus’ divinity and eternality. The Council of Nicaea (325 a.d.) addressed this, defending Christ’s full deity according to the Scriptures, against Arius, who was condemned for teaching heresy. It was the aftermath of this reality that became the context of Ambrose’s ministry. It is not surprising, then, that many of the hymns composed in this period were addressing issues of the nature of God as a Trinity (one God in three persons), with a particular eye toward the deity of Christ1.” The words to this one are beautiful and I have also included a modern, slightly amended song below too; enjoy!
O Splendour of God’s glory bright, from Light eternal bringing light, O Light of light, light’s living Spring, true Day, all days illumining.
Come, very Sun of heaven’s love, in lasting radiance from above, and pour the Holy Spirit’s ray on all we think or do today.
And now to Thee or pray’rs ascend, O Father, glorious without end; we plead with sov’reign grace for pow’r to conquer in temptation’s hour.
Confirm our will to do the right, and keep our hearts from envy’s blight; let faith her eager fires renew, and hate the false, and love the true.
O joyful be the passing day with thoughts as pure as morning’s ray, with faith like noontide shining bright, our souls unshadowed by the night.
Dawn’s glory gilds the earth and skies, let Him, our perfect Morn, arise, the Word in God the Father one, the Father imaged in the Son.
Today’s song comes from British music pastor Ben Slee, who writes songs, articles and training resources for local church musicians and music leaders. Good songs serve not only as prayers to God, but also declarations of truth and our commitment to walk in God’s ways. I hope these words draw you to fear the Lord today and every day; enjoy!
When anxious storms within us rage, we will fear the Lord. when death, disease and darkness reign we will fear the Lord. All things will bow at his command to bring us good from what would harm. We rest secure in sovereign arms, we will fear the Lord.
Our Father freely gave his Son, we will fear the Lord, how could he now withhold his love? We will fear the Lord. Oh, see our Father’s love displayed as Jesus died to bear our shame then left our death within the grave: we will fear the Lord.
There may be anxious times ahead we will fear the Lord. We’ll look to him for daily bread, we will fear the Lord. Our Father hears each feeble plea, He has compassion for the weak, He will supply our every need: we will fear the Lord.
So as we face the storms of life, we will fear the Lord. We’ll cast our burdens onto Christ, we will fear the Lord. In you our future is secure, for all your promises are sure. This song we’ll sing forevermore: we will fear the Lord!
Today’s hymn comes from William Cowper, and is included in the much loved Olney Hymes collection. Cowper wrote this text on December 9, 1769, during the illness of his long-time friend and housekeeper, Mrs. Unwin. In a letter, he voiced his anxieties about her condition and about what might happen to him if she died. Saying that he composed the text “to surrender up to the Lord” all his “dearest comforts,” Cowper added, “her illness has been a sharp trial to me. Oh, that it may have a sanctifying effect!1” I hope you too also have this same desire to walk closer with the Lord; enjoy!
O for a closer walk with God, a calm and heav’nly frame, a light to shine upon the road that leads me to the Lamb!
Where is the blessedness I knew when first I sought the Lord? Where is the soul refreshing view of Jesus and His Word?
What peaceful hours I then enjoyed! How sweet their mem’ry still! But they have left an aching void the world can never fill.
Return, O holy Dove, return, sweet messenger of rest; I hate the sins that made Thee mourn, and drove Thee from my breast.
The dearest idol I have known, whate’er that idol be, help me to tear it from Thy throne and worship only Thee.
So shall my walk be close with God, calm and serene my frame; so purer light shall mark the road that leads me to the Lamb.
Today’s hymn comes from Thomas Cotterill (1779-1823) an Anglican clergyman who became a central figure in the dispute about the propriety of singing hymns in his time. A good hymn to mediate before coming to the Lord’s Table; enjoy!
In memory of the Saviour’s love, We keep the sacred feast. Where every humble, contrite heart Is made a welcome guest.
By faith we take the bread of life Withy which our souls are fed, The cup in token of His blood That was for sinners shed.
In faith and memory thus we sing The wonders of His love, And thus anticipate by faith The heavenly feast above.
Hymn of the Day 