As we are about to begin a new year we reflect on our failings in the past and seek to improve our future walk in the Lord. Have we felt that our personal prayers and private meditations need improvement — and who has not? Have we been at a loss for words to communicate with the Lord God through His Son ? Truly He knows the very thoughts and intents of our hearts but we are admonished to pray without ceasing nevertheless. Our brethren, in speaking and writing have guided us to the Psalms “when our prayers dry up” — a truly wonderful source book. And we have the recorded prayers of such worthies of old as Nehemiah, Daniel, Solomon, Hannah and Mary, to name a few. Yet another source that may be explored are the words found in our hymn book. How often do we open our hymn books and just read them? Read carefully and meditated upon prayerfully they can become a wonderful bridge spanning the gap from our mundane thoughts and words toward the throne of grace and mercy.
For a moment let us forget the music if it is familiar, and concentrate our minds on the words and their meaning. Exploring hymns that are less familiar in this way, will bring rich rewards as we find verses or lines that truly express our needs. In singing our hymns we often concentrate on our “parts” to the neglect of the thoughts expressed and over-familiarity with the tune tends to make us sing thoughtlessly. Each day we may prayerfully dedicate a few minutes to God and His Son as we take our hymn book in hand and read. A sampling from the abundance of our hymn book is here offered.
Hymn 310 “New every morning is the love our waking and uprising prove . . . deal gently with us in thy love.” Are we truly thankful to be alive each day?
Hymn 311 “Throughout the day 0 Lord, in thee, may ready help be found to save us from temptation’s snares besetting us around.” God will guide us if we yield our lives to Him.
Hymn 331 For Sunday morning meditation. For regaining and sustaining confidence.
Hymn 273 “Give to the wind thy fears . . . God hears thy sighs and counts thy tears . . . He gently clears the way.”
Hymn 88 “Not for ease my prayer shall be but for strength that I may ever live courageously”
Hymn 92″ Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take, the clouds ye so much dread are big with mercy and will break with blessings on your head.”
And of course, the old favorites: 95, 97, and 115 are full of wonderful words and thoughts as are the “newer” hymns: 104, 105, 106, 107 and 114.
Oh, there are so many wonderful hymns which we so often sing in a singsong fashion and thereby gain little from the exercise! Hymns 1-41 are based on the psalms we spoke of earlier and Hymns 42-86 are devoted to praising God. Our devotion turns to Jesus in the many hymns about him and his ministry, and here lofty thoughts abound. Though we less often sing from the section about death and judgment words of comfort are there as well.
Hymn 296 “Though change is our portion now, unchangeable Jehovah’s word — I will be with thee, said the Lord.” (“I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” Heb. 13:5)
Hymn 302 “0, rest not weary on the way; who falters in this race of life must lose the prize-wreath on the day that ends the strife. 0, brave the trial, fight the fight!”
Yes, our hymn book can be our help when we pray or when we go about the daily round, the common task. (Hymn 310) With a hymn in our heart we can
“Redeems our mis-spent time that’s past
And live each day as if our last. Improve our talents with due care And for the great day ourselves prepare.” (hymn 309)
Our devotion turns to Jesus in the many hymns about him and his ministry. Though these words are not in our hymn book they are true and bear repeating; “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear . . . What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer through him. Do you have a problem? —and who does not!
Take it to the Lord in prayer
Take your burden and Leave it there.
He can solve it —He alone
Leave it there before His throne.
Christ will share your every care,
Take it to the Lord in prayer,
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One