40 Days of Praise — Day 17

/ taethne

TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE by Francis Ridley Havergal

Take my life and let it be; Consecrated, Lord to Thee

Take my moments and my days; Let them flow in ceaseless praise; Let them flow in ceaseless praise

Take my hands and let them move;  At the impulse of Thy love

Take my feet and let them be; Swift and beautiful for Thee; Swift and beautiful for Thee

Take my voice and let me sing; Always, only for my King

Take my lips and let them be; Filled with messages from Thee; Filled with messages from Thee

Take my silver and my gold; Not a mite would I withhold

Take my intellect and use; Every power as Thou shalt choose; Every power as Thou shalt choose

Take my love, my Lord, I pour; At Thy feet its treasure store

Take myself and I will be; Ever, only, all for Thee; Ever, only, all for Thee

Take my will and make it Thine; It shall be no longer mine

Take my heart, it is Thy own; It shall be Thy royal throne; It shall be Thy royal throne

This hymn is a great daily prayer. What a way to start off each morning – asking God to help us consecrate our life to Him. Let us praise Him each day for He is worthy.

               It is a great privilege, a noble request for us, to ask Him to use all of our being in His service. From my hands and feet, my speech, my financial resources, my mind, love and will; all that I am and have. Nothing less will do for my King of Glory than my all.

               I need the Holy Spirit’s power to constantly, consistently yield myself to God. I need His power to submit my unruly will to His. I need His might to break my stubborn, selfish heart. With all that is within me, I desire to praise His holy name. I long for Him to fully transform me into His image.

               One of the phrases I appreciate from this song is found in verse one. The prayer is for God to take both our moments and our days and have them  become a seamless flow of praise. Another phrase really jumps out too, probably because I am a minister – Take my lips and let them be, filled with messages from Thee. Oh, yes, let us all bring to a lost and dying world a message from God. To use our mouth in this method is a great way of praising and honoring our God.  Right now seems a good moment to start.

            Lord, take all that I am and let me praise You. Take every part of my life because You alone are worthy to be praised. You gave me life and breath – let me use that breath and life to glorify Your name. Accept my offer of praise for Your greatness, majesty and power.

40 Days of Praise — Day 16

/ taethne

LO, HE COME WITH CLOUDS DESCENDING by Charles Wesley

Lo, He comes with clouds descending, Once for favored sinners slain

Thousand, thousand saints attending. Swell the triumph of His train

Alleluia, alleluia, God appears on Earth to reign

Every eye shall now behold Him, Robed in dreadful majesty

Those who set at naught and sold Him. Pierced and nailed Him to the tree

Deeply wailing, deeply wailing, shall the true Messiah see

Now the Savior long expected, See in solemn pomp appear

All His saints by man rejected, Now shall meet Him in the air

Alleluia, alleluia, See the day of God appear

Yes, Amen! Let all adore Thee, High on Thine eternal throne

Savior take the power and glory, Claim the kingdom for Thine own

O come quickly, O come quickly, Everlasting God come down

There are many great hymns about the second coming of Christ. The words of this one, by Charles Wesley and Martin Madan, keep coming back to my mind.

               The story it tells, contrasting the joyful anticipation of those who believe with the agonizing wailing of those who reject Christ, is very compelling. We forget, sometimes, that while we eagerly await the return of our Lord, that His coming seals the doom of those who are not Christians. He comes with us, His saints, to rule the world with a rod of iron. We long to see our King of Glory enthroned, remaking this earth into a paradise.

               I believe that we have forgotten that for many of those we know, our friends, family members and neighbors, Jesus is not their King, nor their Savior. They will not inherit His Kingdom, only His wrath. In one sense, I do want Him to come quickly. I am ready and my immediate family is ready. In another sense, there are those I love who are not. I want a little more time, another opportunity to share with them, before He returns.

            Lord, I am eager for Your return. I long to see You. I desire to see the glories of heaven. I also have people that I love who are not ready for Your return. They do not know You. Please, Lord, let me have another opportunity to witness to them of You.

40 Days of Praise — Day 15

/ taethne

A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD byMartin Luther

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; Our helper He amid the flood, of mortal ills prevailing

For still our ancient foe, doth seek to work us woe; His craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate

On earth is not His equal

Did we in our own strength abide, our striving would be losing; Were not the right man on our side, the man of God’s own choosing

Doth ask who that may be? Christ Jesus it is He; Lord Sabaoth His name, from age to age the same

And He must win the battle

And though this world with devil’s filled, should threaten to undo us; We will not fear for God hath willed, His truth to triumph through us

The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him; His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure

One little word shall fell him

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them abideth; The Spirit and the gifts are ours, through Him who with us sideth

Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also; The body they may kill, God’s truth abideth still

His kingdom is forever

This song has brought comfort to me many times. Whenever I go through trials, whenever I have been faced with persecution because of my faith in Christ, I lean on God to be both my unassailable place of refuge and my defender. Whenever, like the apostle Paul, I am so hard pressed that I despair even of life, my hope rests in the never failing strength and mercy of my God.

               It is so easy to look at the evil in the world and despair. Often, it seems as if goodness is failing and the darkness is winning. It is then that God’s Word provides the ultimate comfort by revealing the final result – God wins. Good triumphs. Evil is banished. Our ancient enemy is forever defeated by the might of our Savior and God.

               As a mere human, I am no match for the Prince of Darkness. As a son of the Living God, a prince of the Kingdom of Light, co-heir with Jesus Christ and temple of the Holy Spirit, I have nothing to fear. My life is hidden in Christ and all I have to do is call on His name. He is my refuge and my strength, an ever present help in times of danger.

            Lord, help me to remember that You are my place of safety, my refuge, my fortress. Help me not to become overwhelmed at the amount of evil in the world but to overcome it by shining Your light. Let me rest in the assurance that You will return, set up Your kingdom, and banish sin and evil forever. Lord, let me also run to You and You alone for safety.

40 Days of Praise — Day 14

/ taethne

HOLY, HOLY HOLY  by Reginald Heber

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty, Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee

Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty, God in three persons, blessed Trinity

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee, Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea

Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee, Who wert and art and evermore shall be

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee, Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see

Only Thou art holy, there is none beside Thee, Perfect in power, in love and purity

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty, All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and sea

Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty, God in three persons, blessed Trinity

What a magnificent, majestic song to sing in praise to God! Yes, all the saints do adore Him, the God of our Salvation. When we stand before the throne we will cast down our crowns at His feet, acknowledging that He and He alone is worthy of any honor. The great angels and other heavenly creatures also will bow in reverence, honor and awe before our great God.

               We cannot see Him now. To witness His holy glory would destroy us. Our sinful bodies are simply not capable of withstanding His perfect presence. One day, we will have a new body and be cleansed from all sin but for now, He is hidden from our sight. Now, we see as through a glass darkly, but then we will see clearly.

               At the coming of the Lord Jesus, when this present heaven and earth pass away and everything is made new, only those who belong to the Lord will inhabit the universe. All His works will praise His name. All will give Him the glory He deserves.

               Every time I sing this song, I am swept up in emotion as I reflect on how wonderful and amazing God is. I sing this with all my heart and mind, praying that He takes joy in my offering to Him. Early in the morning, in the middle of the afternoon, late in the evening, all are appropriate times to ring out praise to our most holy God.

               Most high and holy God, I offer to You everything I have. Nothing I am or will be is in any way a worthy gift to such a magnificent God, but all I have I give to You. You alone are worthy of praise and glory and majesty. I bow before Your glorious throne.

40 Days of Praise –Day 13

/ taethne

AMAZING GRACE by John Newton

Amazing grace how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost but now am found, Was blind but now I see

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved

How precious did that grace appear, The hour I first believed

Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come

‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home

The Lord has promised good to me, His word my hope secures

He will my shield and portion be, As long as life endures

Yea when this flesh and heart shall fail, And mortal life shall cease

I shall possess within the veil, A life of joy and peace

The world shall soon dissolve like snow, The sun refuse to shine

But God who called me here below, Shall be forever mine

When we’ve been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun

We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise, Than when we’ve first begun

I find it ironic that almost everyone sings a version of Amazing Grace. Just perusing music sites, it seems every star has released a version of this song at one time or another, even though most of those people have never experienced God’s saving grace.

                               ‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear.

               To fear God is the beginning of wisdom. Fear of His just punishment for sin. When I reflected on John 3:17-18, it made John 3:16 come alive. I was already condemned and facing eternal punishment.

                               And grace my fears relieved.

               God’s grace, given to me when I turned my life over to His Son’s Lordship, granted to me eternal life. There is now no condemnation for I am safely in the family of God. So precious, that grace given the hour, the very second I first believed.

               Upon hearing the call of God our Shepherd, here in this world, we will experience His reality face to face in the next. His word, His promises, secures our hope for an eternity with Him in heaven.

               Unless a person has experienced God’s saving grace, they really have no idea what this song is about. Far from just being a good hymn, it hammers home to us that our only hope is to be found in Christ alone.

            Lord, Your grace is totally amazing. That You could extend grace and mercy to us just completely overwhelms me. You, the perfect, holy Creator of the Universe, extending grace to one such as myself, selfish, arrogant, sinful is simply … amazing.

            Thank you for saving me by Your grace and extending to me the faith necessary to believe.

40 Days of Praise — Day 12

/ taethne

I LOVE TO TELL THE STORY by Katherine Hankey

I love to tell the story of unseen things above, Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love

I love to tell the story because I know ’tis true, It satisfies my longings like nothing else can do

I love to tell the story; more wonderful it seems. Than all our golden fancies of all our golden dreams

I love to tell the story, it did so much for me, And that is just the reason, I tell it now to thee

I love to tell the story; ’tis pleasant to repeat, What seems, each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet

I love to tell the story, for some have never heard, The message of salvation, from God’s own holy word

I love to tell the story for those who know it best, Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest

And when, in scenes of glory, I sing a new, new song, ‘Twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long

REFAIN:

I love to tell the story, ’twill be my theme in glory, To tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love

The history of this hymn and her sister hymn Tell Me the Old, Old Story is fascinating. Taken from a long poem, some fifty stanzas written by Katherine Hankey, both songs draw a person to realize just how precious sharing the gospel truly is.

The first reason to tell the gospel story is, of course, because some have never heard. How sad that some 2,000 years after being given the command to go into all the world we have not been completely obedient.

Another reason is also mentioned in the hymn. Those who know the gospel best still long to hear it again and again. It never gets old. It still amazes everyone when they reflect on the depth of love that God has for us. We still marvel at Jesus’ sacrificial death. We still cry on Good Friday and jump and shout triumphantly on Easter Sunday.

When we arrive in heaven, our song – the song of redemption, will be unique in the cosmos; and we will never get tired of it.

Lord, I love to tell the story of Your salvation. From the choosing of Mary and Joseph as Your earthly parents to the birth in Bethlehem to the cross on Calvary, the story is marvelous and amazing. How deep Your love is. How merciful Your actions. Help me to tell the old, old story, both to those who have never heard and to those who long to hear it again.

40 Days of Praise — Day 11

/ taethne

COME THOU FOUNT by Robert Robinson

Come, thou fount of every blessing, Tune my heart to sing Thy grace

Streams of mercy, never ceasing, Call for songs of loudest praise

Teach me some melodious sonnet, Sung by flaming tongues above

Praise the mount, I’m fixed upon it, Mount of Thy redeeming love

Here I raise mine Ebenezer, Hither by Thy help I’m come

And I hope by Thy good pleasure, Safely to arrive at home

Jesus sought me when a stranger, Wandering from the fold of God

He to rescue me from danger, Interposed His precious blood

O to grace how great a debtor, Daily I’m constrained to be

Let Thy goodness, like a fetter, Bind my wandering heart to Thee

Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love

Here’s my heart Lord, take and seal it, Seal it for Thy courts above

Of all the hymns this is probably my favorite. Prone to wander – yes, that is me. Prone to leave the God I love. Why? That is the question, isn’t it. Why do we leave the place where we are safest? Why do we leave the One who has given us everything we need to live a godly life?

O, the depths the human soul has sunk to! Even when brought into a transforming relationship with the God of the Universe we still seek to go our own way. Yes, I will raise my Ebenezer, knowing full well it is only by His help, His grace and power that I have come as far as I have. Only by His help, grace and power will I arrive at the destination He has planned for me. I need to pray for Him to daily bind me to Him. Not to keep me from experiencing a wonderful life, but to keep me from danger and harm. To keep me close to Him, the Savior of Life and every good blessing.

If I cannot keep myself close to Him, and I have proven over and over that I cannot, I can ask Him to keep close to me.

Bend my heart to Thee Lord, I pray. Fetter my wandering feet so they do not leave Your path. You have said you will never leave me nor forsake me and I appreciate that very much. Forgive my sins, I pray, and draw me close to your side.

40 Days of Praise — Day 10

/ taethne

I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVETH by Jesse Pounds

I know that my Redeemer liveth, And on the earth again shall stand

I know eternal life He giveth, That grace and power are in His hand

I know His promise never faileth, The Word He speaks, it cannot die

Though cruel death, my flesh assaileth, Yet I shall see Him by and by

I know my mansion, He prepareth, That where He is, there I may be

O wondrous thought, for me He careth, And He at last will come for me

REFRAIN:

I know, I know, that Jesus liveth, And on the earth, again shall stand

I know, I know, that life He giveth, That grace and power are in His hand

Taken from the words of Job the Wise, the title of this hymn says it all. Because Jesus lives, we have assurance of eternal life. What sets Jesus apart from all other religious teachers is that He rose from the dead, proving Himself to be God.

One day, he is coming back to judge the living and the dead. He will come back to earth to redeem His own and to destroy both our adversary and death itself.

Jesus has promised us that when we die we will go to be with Him in paradise. This gives great assurance and hope to all believers when they stand at death’s doorway. We face the grave with joy, not terror. For us, death has lost its sting and becomes a transition from one home to another. That is why, although we grieve in sorrow for a loved one who has died, we do not mourn as one without hope. We know that we will see our fellow believers again and fellowship with them forever.

Grace and power are definitely in His hand. Power to conquer death. Power to judge all men. Power to traverse the universe. Grace is His to bestow on His children, those who believe in Him for salvation. What a wonderful Savior is Jesus our Lord.

Thank you, Lord, for the testimony of Scripture, of the eyewitness accounts of the Resurrected Christ. By this we know and are assured of the conquering of death by Your hand. What a wonderful truth to cling to – You live and are coming back for us.

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.