This hymn was written by modern songwriters Stuart Townend & Keith Getty. Often today the preaching of the Word has been diminished in value – from its prominence in a service, to it’s passion; but most of all in our own expectation each time we sit down and ask God to speak to us. In writing this hymn, it was their prayer that through the power of the Spirit, this hymn would prepare people to humbly listen to the Bible being taught and respond to the huge consequences it has on their lives¹. The lyrics below would be an excellent prayer for any church leader to lead their congregation with before the preaching of the Word.

Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
To receive the food of your holy word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfil in us
All Your purposes, for Your glory.

Teach us Lord full obedience,
Holy reverence, true humility.
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity.
Cause our faith to rise
Cause our eyes to see,
Your majestic love and authority.
Words of power that can never fail;
Let their truth prevail over unbelief.

Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us.
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time,
That will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we’ll stand on Your promises;
And by faith we’ll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, ’til your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory.

¹facebook.com/gettymusic/posts/the-story-behind-speak-o-lordone-of-christianitys-distinctives-is-that-we-worshi/10155873712805136/

Wendell Kimbrough is the writer of this song, whose songs are marked by strong singable melodies, steeped in the sounds of folk, gospel, and soul music. What has made his songs popular is “his use of scriptural texts for his lyrics; his tunes which are extremely useful for congregational singing; and his approach in concert, which involves teaching God’s people the music to sing”¹. This is one of my favourites takes from the album Psalms We Sing Together.

Now the days and hours and moments
Of our suff’ring seem so long;
And the toilsome wait and wond’ring
Threaten silence to our song.
Now our pain is real and pressing
Where our faith is thin and weak,
But our hope is set on Jesus;
And we cling to him, our strength.

Oh eternal weight of glory!
Oh inheritance divine!
We will see our Lord redeeming
Every past and future time.
All our pains will be transfigured,
Like the scars of Christ our Lord.
We will see the weight of glory,
And our broken years restored.

For behold! I tell a myst’ry:
At the trumpet sound we’ll wake
“Death is swallowed up in vict’ry!”
When we meet our King of Grace
Every year we thought was wasted
Every night we cried “How long?”
All will be a passing moment
In our Saviour’s vict’ry song

We will see our wounded Saviour.
We’ll behold him face to face;
And we’ll hear our anguished stories
Sung as vict’ry songs of grace.
For behold! I tell a myst’ry:
At the trumpet sound we’ll wake
“Death is swallowed up in vict’ry!”
When we meet our King of Grace
Every year we thought was wasted
Every night we cried “How long?”
All will be a passing moment
In our Saviour’s vict’ry song

¹http://www.wendellk.com/#about

This song by Sovereign Grace is a prayer that we would all do well to pray to God – structured to draw near to God during the morning, the day and the night, this song will stir your heart to see our daily need for God.

As morning dawns and day awakes,
To You I bring my need.
O gracious God, my source of strength,
In You I live and breathe.
Each hour is Yours by wisdom planned,
Each deed empowered by sovereign hands.
Renew my spirit, help me stand;
Be glorified today

As day unfolds, I seek Your will
In all of life’s demands.
And though the tempter tries me still,
I cling to Your commands.
Let every effort of my life
Display the matchless worth of Christ.
Make me a living sacrifice;
Be glorified today.

As sun gives way to darkest night
Your Spirit still is here.
And though my strength fades like the light
New mercies will appear.
I rest in You; abide with me
Until our trials and suffering –
Give way to final victory;
Be glorified, today; be glorified, I pray

Not much is known about the author John Stocker, other than he lived in Honitan, Devonshire. He is considered a friend of A. M. Toplady (who wrote “Rock of Ages”) and Stocker contributed nine hymns to “The Gospel Magazine” in 1776-1777¹. This hymn, included in Spurgeon’s Own Hymn Book, is a personal favourite of mine.

Thy mercy, my God, is the theme of my song,
The joy of my heart. and the boast of my tongue;
Thy free grace alone, from the first to the last,
Hath won my affections, and bound my soul fast.

Without Thy sweet mercy I could not live here;
Sin would reduce me to utter despair;
But, through Thy free goodness, my spirits revive,
And He that first made me still keeps me alive.

Thy mercy is more than a match for my heart,
Which wonders to feel its own hardness depart;
Dissolved by Thy goodness, I fall to the ground,
And weep to the praise of the mercy I’ve found.

Great Father of mercies, Thy goodness I own,
And the covenant love of Thy crucified Son;
All praise to the Spirit, Whose whisper divine
Seals mercy, and pardon, and righteousness mine.

¹bibletruthpublishers.com/john-stocker/adrian-roach/the-little-flock-hymn-book-its-history-and-hymn-writers/a-roach/la105012

This song is written by Kha Do, Assistant Professor of Music and Worship at Boyce College. He has also spent time leading Norton Hall Band, a music ministry of Southern Seminary. Norton Hall Band’s purpose is “to lead in worship that centres around the gospel and is birthed out of the Word of God”¹. I’m sure you’ll enjoy the below song and words by the band.

Be a lamp for all my days Lord
Bear a torch that I might see;
Through the fog of bitter pain
And know Your purpose lies beneath.
Oh to taste and see the gospel
As I never have before;
Be a lamp for all my days
And I shall walk in endless joy.

As I sojourn cross this dessert
Through the plains of doubtful night;
Speak the words that guide my footsteps
Let them shine as stars so bright.
Point me northward to thy country
Where my soul will find its home;
Be a lamp for all my days
And I shall walk in endless joy.

You’re the lamp, the light of heaven
Dawn of mercy for all men;
Through Your death and resurrection
Sons of night are born again.
What a gift so free and moving
Sets ablaze my fainting soul;
Be a lamp for all my days
And I shall walk in endless joy.

Oh to taste and see the gospel
As I never have before;
Be a lamp for all my days
And I shall walk in endless joy.

¹https://www.sbts.edu/bgs/biblical-worship/norton-hall-band/

Another hymn by William Cowper, this hymn has often been described as the finest hymn ever written on God’s providence. No doubt the experience of Cowper losing his mother when he was six, being shipped to boarding school not long after, and suffering sever depression most of his life, helped shape this hymn. Renowned British hymnologist Erik Routley compares this hymn text to a Rembrandt painting: its dark background sets off the bright light of truth in the foreground. Over it Cowper wrote John 13:7: “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand”¹. The song version I have included below has slightly different lyrics, but is great nonetheless.

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform
He plants his footsteps on the sea
And rides upon the storm;
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sov’reign will.

You fearful saints fresh courage take
The clouds you so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head;
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense
But trust him for his grace
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast
Unfolding every hour
The bud may have a bitter taste
But sweet will be the flower;
Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain
God is His own interpreter
And He will make it plain.

¹page 117 – Leeman, D. and Leeman, B., 2022. Our Hymns, Our Heritage: A Student Guide to Songs of the Church

Originally published under the title “In Temptation,” this hymn has as its theme the sufficiency of Christ to give comfort, power, and grace in any circumstance. It is a plea that Jesus will provide sanctuary to the tempted (st. 1), because there is no other refuge (st. 2). Christ is declared to be the sole desire of the Christian, who is undeserving (st. 3), while Christ’s grace is declared sufficient to cleanse the Christian from all his vile sins (st. 4)¹. There is no particular occasion linked to the writing of the hymn “Jesus, Lover of My Soul.” We know from the heading in its original publication (“In Temptation”) that it was apparently meant to be a help in fighting sin. Whether it was written during a time of temptation in Charles’ own life, though, we cannot say².

Jesus, lover of my soul,
let me to thy bosom fly,
while the nearer waters roll,
while the tempest still is high;
hide me, O my Saviour, hide,
till the storm of life is past;
safe into the haven guide,
O receive my soul at last!

Other refuge have I none;
hangs my helpless soul on thee;
leave, ah! leave me not alone,
still support and comfort me.
All my trust on thee is stayed,
all my help from thee I bring;
cover my defenseless head
with the shadow of thy wing.

Thou, O Christ, art all I want,
More than all in Thee I find;
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
Heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy Name,
Source of all true righteousness;
Thou art evermore the same,
Thou art full of truth and grace.

Plenteous grace with thee is found,
grace to cover all my sin;
let the healing streams abound;
make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art;
freely let me take of thee;
spring thou up within my heart,
rise to all eternity.

¹hymnary.org/text/jesus_lover_of_my_soul_let_me_to_thy_bos
²https://www.challies.com/articles/hymn-stories-jesus-lover-of-my-soul/

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.

¹hymnary.org/text/come_thou_almighty_king_help_us_thy

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

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