Month: February 2024

40 Days of Praise — Day 9

/ taethne

JESUS PAID IT ALL by Elvina Hall

I hear the Savior say, “Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray, Find in Me thine all in all.”

For nothing good have I, Whereby Thy grace to claim;
I’ll wash my garments white, In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.

And now complete in Him, My robe, His righteousness,
Close sheltered ’neath His side, I am divinely blest.

Lord, now indeed I find Thy pow’r, and Thine alone,
Can change the leper’s spots  And melt the heart of stone.

When from my dying bed, My ransomed soul shall rise,
“Jesus died my soul to save,” Shall rend the vaulted skies.

And when before the throne, I stand in Him complete,
I’ll lay my trophies down, All down at Jesus’ feet.

REFRAIN:

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

Regrettably, I usually hear this hymn only during the response or invitation time at church. The words are so true, so biblical, it should be sung much more often. I especially love the words of verse 5. I want to shout those words as I ascend to heaven, “Jesus died my soul to save.”

Jesus accomplished everything necessary for our salvation. No more sacrifice to pay the penalty for sin is needed. There are no works we can do to pay for our salvation as it is already paid for. Only His power can replace a heart of stone, cold and indifferent to spiritual realities, with a heart open and responsive to the Holy Spirit.

Only Jesus can bring new life to one who is spiritually dead. Only Jesus can bring sight to one who is spiritually blind. Only He can cleanse our sin-stained soul and make it holy and bright.

In Jesus and Jesus alone is salvation found. There is no other name, no other system, no other achievement, no other religious teaching than His atoning death that can bring about salvation. Jesus paid it all. All to Him I owe.

Lord, thank you for purchasing my salvation. Thank you for caring enough to redeem my sin-stained and sickened soul. I praise you for cleansing with and making me whole. Thank you for shedding Your holy blood for the remission of my sins.

40 Days of Praise — Day 8

/ taethne

Be Thou My Vision by Mary Byrne

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me save that Thou art

Thou my best thought by day or by night; Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light

Be Thou my wisdom and Thou my true Word; I ever with Thee and Thou with me Lord

Thou my great Father, I thy true son; Thou in me dwelling and I with Thee one

Riches I heed not nor man’s empty praise; Thou mine inheritance now and always

Thou and Thou only, first in my heart; High King of Heaven, my treasure Thou art

High King of Heaven my victory won; May I reach heaven’s joys, bright heaven’s Sun

Head of my own heart, whatever befall; Still be my vision, O Ruler of all

A melodious tune does nothing to soften the impact of the words of this hymn. I cannot honestly say that I don’t heed riches or the praise of man as the hymn writer pens.

Each time I think that I am making progress in those areas, something happens that makes me realize they have far more of a hold on me than I imagined. For every step forward in these areas, I seem to slip back into bad practices and habits far too often.

I pray that like David, in Psalm 46, that God would grant to me an undivided heart. I understand all too well that while I love God, I also still love the things of this world way too much. I understand what Paul was struggling with when he talked about doing things he knew were wrong and not doing the things he knew was right. Only God can help us become a consistent Christian through the power of His Spirit.

If I could capture the vision of God so clearly that His light would outshine everything else, it would help me to lead a life pleasing to Him. I can capture this vision by spending more and more time in His presence. My prayer is to see Him more clearly each day.

What a joy it would be to have a single-minded devotion to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Lord, please become my vision. Help me to see you clearly in this muddled world. Grant to me an undivided heart so I may serve you with all of it.

40 Days of Praise — Day 7

/ taethne

STANDING ON THE PROMISES by R. Kelso Carter

Standing on the promises of Christ my king; Through eternal ages let His praises ring

Glory in the highest I will shout and sing; Standing on the promises of God

Standing on the promises that cannot fail; When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail

By the living Word of God I shall prevail; Standing on the promises of God

Standing on the promises I now can see; Perfect present cleansing in the blood for me

Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free; Standing on the promises of God

Standing on the promises of Christ, the Lord; Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord

Overcoming daily by the Spirit’s sword; Standing on the promises of God

Standing on the promises I cannot fall; Listening every moment to the Spirit’s call

Resting in my Savior as my all in all; Standing on the promises of God

REFRAIN

Standing, standing, standing on the promises of God my Savior

Standing, standing, I’m standing on the promises of God

The second verse of this hymn strikes me profoundly. God’s promises cannot fail. The omnipotent, all-knowing Creator God is able to keep every promise He makes. He is trustworthy, He is true. Whenever the storms of doubt and fear howl at me, whenever I am assailed by the knowledge of my own inadequacy, I can stand on God’s promises because He never fails.

There are over 3,000 promises in the Bible. 2 Peter 1:3-4 says this about those precious promises:

       “God’s divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence, by which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises so that through them you may become partakers of His divine nature”

Oh, what a great passage. God gave us these promises of His so that we can partake of His divine nature. He gave them to us so we can live a godly life through our relationship with His perfect Son!

Truly, I am bound to Him eternally and can overcome each day the doubts and fears Satan throws at me by using the Spirit’s Sword, the Holy Word of God. I will resolve to know these promises and to stand on Him. Will you?

Lord, help me to study Your Word and find your promises. Help me to hide Your Word in my heart so I will live a godly life and not sin against you. Help me to stand on Your Word.                                                                                                                                     Amen.

40 Days of Praise — Day 6

/ taethne

As always, you can get the whole devotional on Amazon or download and listen to it on Audible

I AM RESOLVED by Palmer Hartsough

I am resolved no longer to linger, Charmed by the world’s delights

Things that are higher, things that are nobler; These have allured my sight

I am resolved to go to the Savior; Leaving my sin and strife

He is the True One, He is the Just One; He hath the words of life

I am resolved to follow the Savior; Faithful and true each day

Heed what He sayeth, do what He willeth; He is the living way

I am resolved to enter the Kingdom; Leaving the paths of sin

Friends may oppose me, foes may beset me; Still will I enter in

I am resolved and who will go with me? Come, friends, without delay

Taught by the Bible, led by the Spirit; We’ll walk the heavenly way

REFRAIN

I will hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free; Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to thee

This upbeat, quick-tempo hymn inspires and challenges me to live for Christ daily. All too often I find myself being charmed by the delights of this world. Like Abram’s nephew Lot, looking at the lush valley towards Sodom, I find myself dazzled by the shiny façade of material things.

Oh, how I long to discipline myself to pursue those things which are higher and nobler, godly things that deserve my single-minded devotion. The author of the song, Palmer Hartsough, makes a great observation that “friends may oppose me, foes may beset me.” Not only will Satan try to distract me from my resolve to follow Jesus but even Christian friends, who have succumbed to worldly temptations, will also oppose me. Radical, fanatic and other appellations will be hurled at the one who pursues hard after God.

Still, even though friends may not understand my desire, I want them to join with me. This hymn urges me to invite them on the journey into complete discipleship. By leaning on and learning from God’s Word, by seeking guidance from His Spirit in prayer, we can journey together in spiritual growth.

How resolved are you to let go of the things of this world and follow after Jesus?

 Lord, give me the discipline to instill Christ-like habits in my life. Help me to look beyond the things of this world and pursue hard after those things which will make me be an asset to Your kingdom. Fill my eyes with glimpses of You.

40 Days of Praise — Day 5

/ taethne

DARE TO BE A DANIEL by Phillip Bliss

Standing by a purpose true, Heeding God’s command

Honor them the faithful few, All hail to Daniel’s band

Mighty men are lost, Daring not to stand

Who for God had been a host, By joining Daniel’s band

Many giants great and tall, Stalking through the land

Headlong to the earth would fall, If met by Daniel’s band

Held the Gospel banner high, On to victory grand

Satan and his hosts defy, And shout for Daniel’s band

REFRAIN

Dare to be a Daniel, Dare to stand alone

Dare to have a purpose firm, Dare to make it known.

Written by Phillip Bliss for his Sunday School class, this hymn has been a favorite of mine since I was a boy. Both inspiring and challenging, Bliss throws down a gauntlet in urging believers to stand firm for the truth and to be active in conquering evil. In a day when a false definition of tolerance is making its way though society, the words of this song encourage us to act like one of the heroes of the faith.

Like Daniel, we are encouraged to live faithful lives by standing firm in obedience to God’s commands, even when the rest of society is compromising. We are urged to be brave and not to shirk from our duty. Though others may fall away, though we alone may seem to be remaining faithful, we must stand firm for our beliefs as Daniel did.

I often wonder, as I read the book of Daniel, how many other captive Jews just blended into Babylonian society. Apparently he was the only one who took praying to God seriously. The rest, well, it wasn’t politically correct to be seen worshipping God. How many of us fall into the trap of being politically correct instead of obedient?

We can accomplish great things for God when we walk in the might of His power and share the gospel message. May we go before the Lord today and pray that we will have the courage to stand for our convictions as Daniel did.

Lord, grant me conviction of heart like Daniel. Help me to stay the course, to be true and faithful. May it start today, let me not shirk from sharing the gospel with one who needs to hear Your message.

40 Days of Praise — Day 4

/ taethne

Continuing our devotional 40 Days of Praise, available through Amazon and Audible.

LORD, LIKE A PUBLICAN I STAND by Thomas Raffles

Lord, like the publican I stand

And lift my heart to Thee

Thy pardoning grace, O God, command

Be merciful to me

I smite upon my anxious breast

O’er whelmed with agony

O save my soul by sin oppressed

Be merciful to me

My guilt, my shame, I all confess

I have no hope nor plea

But Jesus’ blood and righteousness

Be merciful to me

Here at the cross I still would wait

Nor from its shelter flee

But Thou, O God, in mercy great Art merciful to me

This hymn is not as widely known as the majority of others in this devotional, but it is very powerful and moving. The words of this hymn are taken straight out of the gospel of Luke, chapter 18. The author, Thomas Raffles, shows us what is necessary to obtain God’s pardoning grace and mercy – confession and repentance.

Throwing himself at the foot of God’s throne, confessing the agony of his sinful soul, the penitent tax-collector pleads for mercy based on Jesus’ atonement. He stands in contrast to the Pharisee who assumed that because he was religious, he was in good standing with God. The tax-collector knew that righteous works were not enough to find pardon before a God who demands perfection. All he can hope for is to confess all of his sins, all of his unrighteousness and throw himself on the mercy of the Heavenly Court. As he does, he finds Jesus’ mercy and saving power.

What a wonderful picture this song gives us of the hope that is found in Jesus. As you go before God’s throne today, like the publican call upon His mercy and confess your sins. You, too, will find the cleansing power of Jesus’ blood washing away your sins and making you justified in the sight of God.

Lord, here I stand, naked before you. You know me, my ways, my thoughts, my deceitful heart. I can offer no excuse. I can offer no works that are pure to atone for my sins. I repent and cast myself on your mercy. Be merciful to me Lord, a sinner.

40 Days of Praise — Day 3

/ taethne

If you haven’t listened to this book on Audible you are in for a treat – the background singing of the hymns is awesome. Also available in paperback on Amazon.

O WORSHIP THE KING by Robert Grant

O worship the King, all glorious above

O gratefully sing God’s power and God’s love

Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days

Pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise

O tell of His might, O sing of His grace

Whose robe is the light, whose canopy space

Whose chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form

 And dark is His path on the wings of the storm

 The earth with its store of wonders untold

 Almighty Thou power hath founded of old

 Hath established it fast by a changeless decree

  And round it has cast like a mantle, the sea

  Thy bountiful care, what tongue can recite

   It breathes in the air, it shines in the light

  It streams from the hills, it descends to the plains

   And sweetly distills in the dew and the rain

   Frail children of dust and feeble as frail

   In Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail

   Thy mercies, how tender, how firm to the end

   Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer and Friend

This majestic song lifts you up in praise to the One seated on the Everlasting throne. The use of adjectives such as shield, defender, friend, maker and redeemer tell us of God’s character.

Here is no aloof God, watching from way off in space. Here is a God intimately involved with His creation. This is, make no mistake, a hymn about the Creator and His creation. It was based on Psalm 104. In a day where evolution is held to be absolute truth, this hymn helps us to unashamedly sing out our belief in a personal Creator God.

The third stanza unapologetically states that God formed the world. The writer has in mind both the Genesis account of Moses and the book of Job, where God tells Job that He put boundaries on the waters.

God’s love and providence for His creation is evident throughout the song. It is because He cares and desires so deeply for us to have a relationship with Him, that we are able to sing of His glory and might.

God is our shield, an ever-present help in times of trouble. He defends us against the slanderous attacks of our adversary. He is our friend as well as our Lord, a mind-blowing concept is ever there was one. Most of all, He is our creator and our redeemer. He made us for Himself and redeemed us for Himself. All praise to the King of Kings, who is worthy of all glory and honor.

As you pray today, thank God for the ways He manifests Himself to you – a shield, defender, redeemer. He is not only your maker, but He will be your friend if you would yield your life to Him.

Thank you Lord, for creating us and the beautiful world we live in. We worship You, King of the Universe, and give you all glory and honor and praise.

40 Days of Praise — Day 2

/ taethne

Todays devotional features one of my favorite hymns. As always, you can find my books on Amazon and Audible.

Rock of Ages by Augustus Toplady

Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me find myself in Thee

Let the water and the blood, From Thy wounded side which flowed

Be of sin the double cure, Save from wrath and make me pure

Not the labor of my hands, Can fulfill Thy laws demands

Could my zeal no languor know, Could my tears forever flow

These for sin could not atone, Thou must save and Thou alone

In my hand no price I bring, Simply to Thy cross I’ll cling

Naked, come to Thee for dress, Helpless, look to Thee for grace

Foul, I to the fountain fly, Wash me Savior, lest I die

While I draw this fleeting breath, When my eyes shall close in death

When I rise to worlds unknown, And behold Thee on Thy throne

Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee

One of the greatest hymns of all time, Rock of Ages packs deep spiritual truths in its short stanzas. The Rock of Ages is, of course, Jesus Christ, the One who was cleft for us on the cross. He was pierced for our transgressions and by His stripes we are healed. To Him alone we must go for salvation. The final part of verse one, though, is truly deep:

Be of sin the double cure,

Save from wrath and make me pure

God’s wrath is poured out on the sinner. Even now they are under His condemnation (John 3:17). The precious blood of Jesus, poured out on the penitent crying for mercy and salvation, satisfies the wrath of God the Father. Not only that, but it cleanses us from all unrighteousness, hence “the double cure.” So much truth packed into so few words.

The rest of the song hammers home the inability of man to save himself, whether by works, (labor of hands) enthusiasm, (zeal) or by sorrow (tears). Only Jesus, alone, can save. This is the great truth about our Lord. Not only can He save, but He does save.

One early, alternate version of the first stanza ended like this: Be of sin the double cure, cleanse me from its guilt and power. While this version is not used as often, it also contains a great truth. Sin is a terrible power that makes all of us stand guilty before God. Truly, we need to fly to the fountain filled with the blood of Jesus to be washed clean.

As you spend time in prayer and contemplation, thank Jesus for His saving grace. Thank Him for substituting Himself for you on the cross, taking the wrath of God in your place and being willing to save.

Thank you Father, for sending Your Son as the means of salvation. Thank you Jesus for atoning for our sins by paying sin’s penalty. Be our Rock, we pray, where we can find shelter for all eternity.

40 Days of Praise — Day 1

/ taethne

My book, 40 Days of Praise, can be found on Amazon. Celebrating some of the greatest songs of the Christian faith, I hope that you will use this as a devotional. Each day features a song and brief comments on the hymn. Who knows … you might discover a new favorite or see some verses you never knew existed.

Stand Up, Stand for Jesus by George Duffield, Jr.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus  Ye soldiers of the cross

Lift high His royal banner       It must not suffer loss

From victory, unto victory      His army shall He lead

Till every foe is vanquished    And Christ is Lord indeed

Stand up, stand up for Jesus  The solemn watchword hear

If while ye sleep He suffers     Away with shame and fear

Wherever ye meet with evil    Within you or without

Charge for the God of battles And put the foe to rout

Stand up, stand up for Jesus  The trumpet call obey

Forth to the mighty conflict    In this His glorious day

Ye that are brave now serve Him     Against unnumbered foes

Let courage rise with danger  And strength to strength oppose

Stand up, stand up for Jesus  Stand in His strength alone

The arm of flesh will fail you  Ye dare not trust your own

Put on the Gospel armor       Each piece put on with prayer

Where duty calls or danger     Be never wanting there

Stand up, stand up for Jesus  Each soldier to his post

Close up the broken column   And shout through all the host

Make good the loss so heavy  In those that shall remain

And praise to all around you  That death itself is gain

Stand up, stand up for Jesus  The strife will not be long

This day the noise of battle    The next the victor’s song

To him who overcometh          A crown of life shall be

They with the King of Glory    Shall reign eternally

When I was a child, I did not understand this hymn. Well, to be honest, I understood all but one line of it. In the fourth stanza, at the end, the poem goes, “where duty calls or danger, be never wanting there.”

In my young mind I took this phrase to mean “never be wanting to go wherever danger might be.” I knew, though, that while this made sense to my child’s mind, it didn’t make sense in a song about fighting for God, and being willing to put all on the line for the Lord.

Finally, it was explained to me. To be found wanting is to be found missing from where one needs to be. You are wanted, needed somewhere. You need to be somewhere that duty is calling, but you have gone AWOL. You have gone astray. The writer of this song is encouraging us to always be where we are needed, and to never let cowardice keep us from standing up for the Lord.

What a powerful song. Based on Ephesians 6:14 and written as a tribute to the Reverend Dudley Tyng (one of America’s great preachers) this song has inspired many to look to Jesus and not at the world. It is Jesus alone we look to, Jesus alone we are called to serve. Let us, therefore, be found true and faithful to the One who gave His life for us. Let us stand up for Jesus at home, school and play. Let us never be found wanting where we are needed.

Lord, help me be unashamed of You. Help me to witness clearly, speak boldly and oppose evil mightily. Give to me, the strength and protection I need.