Today’s hymn comes with thanks to John Newton, and is headed with the title “For the New Year”, describing the brevity of life, and our need to number our days; enjoy!

Meter: 7.7.7.7 D

While with ceaseless course the sun
Hasted thru’ the former year,
Many souls their race have run,
Never more to meet us here:
Fixed in an eternal state,
They have done with all below;
We a little longer wait,
But how little, none can know.

As the winged arrow flies
Speedily the mark to find,
As the ligh’tning from the skies
Darts and leaves no trace behind;
Swiftly thus our fleeting days
Bear us down life’s rapid stream;
Upward, Lord, our spirits raise;
All below is but a dream.

Thanks for mercies past receive;
Pardon of our sins renew;
Teach us henceforth how to live,
With eternity in view.
Bless thy word to young and old,
Fill us with a Saviour’s love;
And when life’s short tale is told,
May we dwell with thee above.

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Today’s hymn comes from John Samuel Bewley Monsell (1811-1875), an Irish minister who served as a chaplain and rector of several churches in Ireland after his ordination in 1835. He was a prolific poet, and published his verse in eleven volumes. Of his three hundred hymns, many celebrated the seasons of the church year¹. Enjoy!

Fight the good fight with all your might,
Christ is your strength and Christ your right.
Lay hold on life, and it shall be
your joy and crown eternally.

Run the straight race through God’s good grace;
lift up your eyes, and seek his face.
Life with its way before us lies;
Christ is the path and Christ the prize.

Cast care aside, lean on your guide;
his boundless mercy will provide.
Lean, and the trusting soul shall prove
Christ is its life and Christ its love.

Faint not, nor fear, his arms are near;
he changes not, and you are dear.
Only believe, and you will see
that Christ is Lord eternally.

¹hymnary.org/person/Monsell_JSB

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Today’s hymn comes from Georgiana M. Taylor (1847-1915). She was the daughter of an English Ang­li­can priest and worked with the Young Wo­men’s Chris­tian As­so­cia­tion. She al­so man­aged a home for young mill­in­ers and fe­male clerks. Enjoy!

Seek ye first, not earthly pleasure,
Fading joy and failing treasure,
But the love that knows no measure,
Seek ye first, seek ye first.

Seek ye first God’s peace and blessing;
Ye have all if this possessing:
Come, your need and sin confessing,
Seek Him first, seek Him first.

Seek this first—be pure and holy;
Like the Master, meek and lowly;
Yielded to His service wholly:
Seek this first, seek this first.

Seek the coming of His kingdom;
Seek the souls around, to win them,
Seek to Jesus Christ to bring them;
Seek this first, seek this first.

Seek this first, His promise trying,
It is sure—all need supplying—
Heav’nly things—on Him relying—
Seek ye first, seek ye first.

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Today’s hymn comes from John Newton, one of my favourite hymn writers. He has the skill of being able to tell so accurately truths and prayers that flood my heart; I hope you can say with him today that you have learned to be content; enjoy!

Fierce passions discompose the mind,
As tempest vex the sea;
But calm content and peace we find,
When, Lord, we turn to thee.

In vain by reason and by rule,
We try to bend the will;
For none but in the Savior’s school
Can learn the heavenly skill.

Since at his feet my soul has sat,
His gracious words to hear,
contented with my present state,
I cast on him my care.

‘Tis he appoints my daily lot,
And will do all things well;
Soon shall I leave this wretched spot,
And rise with him to dwell.

In life his grace shall strength supply,
Proportioned to my day;
In death I still shall find him nigh,
To bear my soul away.

Thus I, who once my wretched days
In vain repinings spent;
Taught in my Saviour’s school of grace,
Have learned to be content.

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Today’s hymn comes from John Bunyan and his great allergy, Pilgrim’s Progress. The first edition of the first part of the book was published in 1678, and The Second Part of the Pilgrim’s Progress was published in 1682. A second edition of the second part was issued in 1684, where this hymn appeared. The second part involves the main character’s wife, Christiana, and his children who had initially refused to follow him, now retracing his path, aided by a guide named Mr. Greatheart. On their way to the Celestial City, they meet another pilgrim named Valiant-for-Faith, who had just fended off three marauders. His parents had discouraged him from leaving, told him of the many challenges he would face, told him of others who had failed in their attempts, and wrongly informed him that Christian had died in the Black River. Valiant ended his testimony by saying he decided to pursue the Celestial City anyway by choosing to believe the assurances of a figure named Mr. Tell-true. The hymn follows his testimony¹. I hope you enjoy this one!

He who would valiant be 
‘gainst all disaster,
let him in constancy 
follow the Master.
There’s no discouragement 
shall make him once relent
his first avowed intent 
to be a pilgrim.

Who so beset him round 
with dismal stories,
do but themselves confound—
his strength the more is.
No foes shall stay his might, 
though he with giants fight;
he will make good his right 
to be a pilgrim.

Since, Lord, Thou dost defend 
us with Thy Spirit,
we know we at the end 
shall life inherit.
Then, fancies, flee away! 
I’ll fear not what men say,
I’ll labor night and day 
to be a pilgrim

¹https://www.hymnologyarchive.com/who-would-true-valour-see

Today’s hymn is by Paul Henkel (1781–1825) who was a native of North Carolina and became an itinerant evangelist for the Lutheran Church in the eastern United States. He was licensed as a preacher by the Ministerium of Pennsylvania in 1783. Although he did receive some financial assistance for his missionary work, the majority of the expenses were paid for out of his own pocket. His work included preaching, baptizing, and creating new congregations in the communities he visited. In 1806 he began distributing books through his sons’ printing house, the Henkel Press, which thus became the only Lutheran publishing house in the country for many years. He also continued his missionary travels, and helped form the Evangelical Lutheran Joint Synod of Ohio in 1818 and the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod in 1820¹. Enjoy this one on the reality of the Christian life.

Strange is the faithful christian’s life,
What doth he feel within?
A constant war, continual strife,
To crush the pow’r of sin.

He seeks the will of God to do,
And should he watch and pray;
Yet his own will is working too!
And leads his mind astray.

What oppositions does he fell!
Doth not the thing he should.
Contrary to his mind and will,
He cannot as he would.

The flesh against the spirit lust,
The will is captive led;
Until the soul renews the trust;
In Christ the living head.

Thus shall he overcome at last!
In vain he shall not strive;
For Jesus has him promise pass’d,
To keep his faith alive.

Influenc’d by the spirit’ pow’r!
His lusts shall be subdu’d–
And he shall be enslav’d no more,
Nor break his peace with God.

Dear Lord, with hopes on thee relied,
I know I shall succeed:
Till all my lusts are crucified,
And I be fully freed.

¹en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Henkel

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Today’s song is by Sovereign Grace and is based on the Valley of Vision prayer by Arthur Bennett, found in the collection of Puritan prayers by the same name. The truths of this song are truths that eventually all of us as Christians will experience. And although it may be painful to live through, it’s necessary in order that we may become more and more like our Saviour, to the praise of God’s glory. Enjoy!

When You lead me to the valley of vision
I can see You in the heights
And though my humbling wouldn’t be my decision
It’s here Your glory shines so bright
So let me learn that the cross precedes the crown
To be low is to be high
That the valley’s where You make me more like Christ

Let me find Your grace in the valley
Let me find Your life in my death
Let me find Your joy in my sorrow
Your wealth in my need
That You’re near with every breath
In the valley

In the daytime there are stars in the heavens
But they only shine at night
And the deeper that I go into darkness
The more I see their radiant light
So let me learn that my losses are my gain
To be broken is to heal
That the valley’s where Your power is revealed

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Today’s hymn is written by Charles Wesley and is a great hymn for you to mediate on at the opening of this day, to commit all your ways to the Lord; enjoy!

Forth in Thy name, O Lord, I go,
my daily labour to pursue,
determined only you to know
in all I think or speak or do.

The task your wisdom has assigned,
O let me cheerfully fulfill;
in all my works your presence find,
and prove your good and perfect will.

May I find you at my right hand;
your eyes see truly what I do.
I labor on at your command
and offer all my works to you.

Give me to bear your easy yoke
and ev’ry moment watch and pray
and still to things eternal look,
and hasten to your glorious day.

For you I joyously employ
whate’er you in grace have giv’n:
I run my daily course with joy
and closely walk with you to heav’n.

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Today’s hymn comes from Judson Van de Venter (1855-1939). He was a teacher in a public school who later left his field of teaching and become an evangelist. Speaking of this hymn he said “The song was written while I was conducting a meeting at East Palestine, Ohio, and in the home of George Sebring (founder of Sebring Campmeeting Bible Conference . . .). For some time, I had struggled between developing my talents in the field of art and going into full-time evangelistic work. At last the pivotal hour of my life came, and I surrendered all. A new day was ushered into my life. I became and evangelist and discovered down deep in my soul a talent hitherto unknown to me. God had hidden a song in my heart, and touching a tender chord, he caused me to sing.”^1. There are many versions of this song to choose from, however why not use this as a prayer to God instead? Enjoy!

All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

Refrain:
I surrender all, I surrender all;
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Make me, Savoour, wholly Thine;
Let me feel Thy Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

Refrain

All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power,
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

Refrain

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¹http://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-i-surrender-all

Today’s hymn was written by Charlotte Elliott in 1836, author of the more well known hymn “Just As I Am”. No song with this one today, but I’m sure you will benefit immensely with the reminder that our biggest need everyday is to draw near to the Lord in prayer for strength, wisdom and grace. Enjoy!

‘Christian! seek not yet repose,’
Hear thy guardian angel say;
Thou art in the midst of foes;
‘Watch and pray.’

Principalities and powers,
Mustering their unseen array,
Wait for thy unguarded hours;
‘Watch and pray.’

Gird thy heavenly armour on,
wear it ever night and day;
ambushed lies the evil one;
‘Watch and pray.’

Hear the victors who o’ercame;
Still they mark each warrior’s way;
All with one sweet voice exclaim,
‘Watch and pray.’

Hear, above all, hear thy Lord,
Him thou lovest to obey;
Hide within thy heart his word,
‘Watch and pray.’

Watch, as if on that alone
Hung the issue of the day;
Pray, that help may be sent down;
‘Watch and pray.’

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