devotional

Hymn Devotions Day 38 – His Way With Thee

/ taethne

 DAY 38 – HIS WAY WITH THEE

 Yielding to the Holy Spirit’s guidance each day is easier said than done. My will, my desires, have to be constantly pushed down so that His desire and will can shine through. I cannot live a godly life in my own power. My heart is desperately and deceitfully wicked. I need to always submit myself to Him, in order to do what is right and holy.

Some of my favorite lines in this hymn point to great gospel truths. He can carry my load far better than I can. Better yet, He offers to carry that load. My worries, frustrations, concerns and ailments can be turned over to Him and exchanged. I especially love the next to last line in the second stanza. The line comes straight out of Jude’s epistle and gives us hope. He can keep us from stumbling or falling. What a magnificent Savior!

Everything is dependent upon Jesus. Only His saving power can make us what God intended for us to be when He created us. Only His atoning death on the cross can cleanse us from all unrighteousness and free us from sin’s power. Only His love can completely fill us because only He can love us with a pure love.

It is a mystery why I struggle with letting Him lead me. I know all these biblical truths. I see the truth of them lived out in my life day by day. Yet I still struggle with turning my life over to Him minute by minute. What a frail, fickle creature I am. How reassuring to read in Scripture that even when I am faithless, He remains faithful because His Spirit lives in me and He cannot deny Himself.

 

Lord, give me the ability to consistently turn my life over to You. I struggle with control issues. I know You know best but my own deceitful heart wrestles with You. Overcome it Lord and reign supremely in my life so I may experience true freedom in You.

 

HIS WAY WITH THEE by Cyrus Nusbaum

 

Would you live for Jesus and be always pure and good?

Would you walk with Him, within the narrow road?

Would you have Him bear your burden, carry all your load?

Let Him have His way with thee.

 

Would you have Him make you free and follow at His call?

Would you know the peace that comes from giving all?

Would you have Him save you so that you need never fall?

Let Him have His way with thee.

 

Would you in His kingdom find a place of constant rest?

Would you prove Him true in providential test?

Would you in His service labor always at your best?

Let Him have His way with thee.

 

REFRAIN:

 

His power can make you what you ought to be

His blood can cleanse your heart and make you free

His love can fill your soul and you will see

‘Twas best for Him to have His way with thee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hymn Devotions Day 36 – Just As I Am

/ taethne

 DAY 36 – JUST AS I AM

            What a wonderful joy to know that we can come to Jesus just as we are. Indeed, we have to come as we are because only He can cleanse us. We cannot clean ourselves up. We cannot make ourselves righteous. We don’t wait until we have “made things right.” We go to Him to be made right.

Not only do we come to Him just as we are, but we are assured that He doesn’t leave us as we are. We come to Him and leave changed. He does indeed rid our souls of the dark stain of sin. He makes us spiritually alive, opens our eyes to spiritual truth, puts us into the correct frame of mind as He heals us.

It is amazing that He is willing to pardon us. Even greater still is His willingness to cleanse us, transform us, call us one of His own. He has promised and His promises never fail. “Come to Me,” Jesus invites and we run to Him, knowing He alone has the answers we need.

I love the very first verse. We come to Christ with no excuses, only an admission of our guilt. We throw ourselves on the mercy of God’s court, and find His grace operative there. Our admission of guilt, our contrition and repentance, is all we need. He bids us to come to Him to find forgiveness and healing. Why should we linger, and heed not His mercies? He is tenderly calling to us, urging us to come to Him. “Let us reason together, though your sins be as scarlet they will be white as snow.”[1] O Lamb of God, I come, seeking Your forgiveness and grace.

Thank You Lord for being willing to take me as I am. Thank You for not leaving me that way, but cleansing me and making me holy. You are a great and wonderful God.

 

JUST AS I AM  by Charlotte Elliott

 

Just as I am without one plea

But that Thy blood was shed for me

And that Thou bidst me come to Thee

O Lamb of God I come, I come

 

Just as I am and waiting not

To rid my soul of one dark blot

To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot

O Lamb of God I come, I come

 

Just as I am though tossed about

With many a conflict, many a doubt

Fightings and fears within, without

O Lamb of God I come, I come

 

Just as I am poor, wretched, blind

Sight, riches, healing of the mind

Yea all I need in Thee to find

O Lamb of God I come, I come

 

Just as I am, Thou wily receive

Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve

Because Thy promise I believe

O Lamb of God I come, I come

 

Just as I am, Thy love unknown

Hath broken every barrier down

Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone

O Lamb of God I come, I come

 

Just as I am, of that free love

The breadth, length, depth, and height to prove

Here for a season, then above

O Lam of God, I come, I come

 

 

[1] Isaiah 1:18

Hymn Devotions Day 31 – Kneel At The Cross

/ taethne

DAY 31 – KNEEL AT THE CROSS

What a joy to know that when we come in repentance to Him, Jesus is faithful to meet us. How great it is, to know that He is there when we need Him. How marvelous to know that He offers us a new life, in exchange for our old one. Do you hear Him calling to you, telling you that His yoke is easy and His burden is light? Do you hear Him calling upon you to repent of your sins and to turn your life over to Him?

It doesn’t matter who you are, where you are from, your race, creed, color or economic status, there is only one way to eternal life – through Jesus Christ. There is room for all who believe. The ground is equal at the foot of the cross, all must enter the same way, through the only Mediator between God and man,  Jesus Christ.

Amazingly, He offers to share His glory with us. To all who believe on Him, God offers not only new life, but to make us co-heirs with Jesus. This is unbelievable. Not only are we pardoned, cleansed and offered a new life forever, but also we are made to share in the blessings and the glory of His Son. What a great God!

What has this life to offer that could possibly compare to sharing in the inheritance of Jesus? Look not to things of this world, look to Jesus alone and find joy unspeakable and full of glory. Find Jesus and find everything.

Lord, help us look only to You. We pray, also, for our friends and family who do not yet know You. Call to them, show them Your glory, draw them to You so they may kneel at the cross in repentance and find remission for their sin.

KNEEL AT THE CROSS – Charles Moody

Kneel at the cross

Christ will meet you there

Come while He waits for you

List to His voice

Leave with Him your care

And begin life anew

Kneel at the cross

There is room for all

Who would His glory share?

Bliss there awaits

Harm can ne’er befall

Those who are anchored there

Kneel at the cross

Give your idols up

Look unto realms above

Turn not away

To life’s sparkling cup

Trust only in His love

REFRAIN

Kneel at the cross

Leave every care

Kneel at the cross

Jesus will meet you there

Hymn Devotions Day 30 – Take My Hand Precious Lord

/ taethne

DAY 30 – TAKE MY HAND, PRECIOUS LORD

 

Many hymns were written out of tragedies, and this one was no exception. Thomas Dorsey was a fantastic musician and song writer who was devastated when his wife died giving birth to their child, who also later died. Filled with despair, he lost faith in God being a good and caring God. Deep in his grief, God reached out to him one as he sat at a friend’s house, overshadowing him with peace and filling his heart with love. Immediately he started playing a melody and these words welled up from inside him.

We can all empathize with him at times in our life. Few us there are who have not been touched with death or tragedy. Few of us there are who have not known despair at the circumstances we find ourselves in. Like the disciples on the boat in the storm, we have a feeling that any moment life is going to drown us. Thankfully, God is in control. He does have a plan, and it is a good one because He is good.

We can, like Peter found out, grab hold of His hand when we are in danger of drowning and He can lift us up to walk above the storms of life. He is all we need. When He is all there is we find Him to be more than sufficient, more than enough. He is God. All-knowing. All-caring. All-powerful. All-wise. All-good. He is God.

When we are overwhelmed we need to simply cry out to Him, “Lord, take my hand.” He will. He will lead us to Himself, where we will find rest for our burdened souls. “Come to Me” is His invitation. He will never turn us away.

 

Lord, take my hand today. Lead me to You. I do not know what today entails for my life, but You do. I can easily lose sight of You, lose perspective, lose hope. Keep me in Your hand, so that I am not overwhelmed by life, but so I can rest in You. Amen.

 

TAKE MY HAND, PRECIOUS LORD – Thomas Dorsey

 

Precious Lord, take my hand

Lead me on, let me stand

I am tired

I am weak

I am worn

Through the storm

Through the night

Lead me on to the light

Take my hand, precious Lord

Lead me home

 

When my way grows drear

Precious Lord, linger near

When my life is almost gone

Hear my cry

Hear my call

Hold my hand

Lest I fall

Take my hand, precious Lord

Lead me home

 

When the darkness appears

And the night draws near

And the day is past and gone

At the river I stand

Guide my feet

Hold my hand

Take my hand, precious Lord

Lead me home

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hymn Devotions Day 29 – Nothing But The Blood

/ taethne

DAY 29 – NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD

               Hebrews 9:22 tells us that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. Other parts of the Bible tell us that only the blood of the perfect Lamb of God, Jesus, suffices to pay sin’s penalty. This song is a tribute to Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross.

Only Jesus can provide forgiveness of sin. Only Jesus can restore our true humanity. Only Jesus can pardon our crimes and atone for our trespasses against God’s laws. Only Jesus can bring healing, peace and comfort.

Our religion is a bloody one. Life is found in the blood and so only a blood sacrifice suffices as payment. Jesus is the only one able to be a perfect sacrifice, as He is the only one to never sin. Let us never be ashamed to sing of His shed blood. Those outside of God’s kingdom may be offended, thinking we are brutal, uncivilized barbarians for focusing on blood, sacrifice, crucifixion and the like. We know why they are important. We know the true history of mankind. We know the story of God’s redemption. We know why it was necessary for Jesus to die in our place.

Let us confidently proclaim our belief, our truth, our Savior. Let us sing out praises to Him who shed His blood on our behalf. Let us glory in our King, who was crucified and who rose again, conquering death. How precious is the blood of Jesus, that purifies me of my sin.

 

Thank You, Lord, for shedding Your blood for me. There is no other who can save. There is none who compares with You. You paid the price for me. Help me to become worthy of Your sacrifice by making me, molding me, into Your image.

 

NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD – Robert Lowry

What can wash away my sin?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

What can make me whole again?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

 

For my pardon, this I see

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

For my cleansing, this my plea

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

 

Nothing can for sin atone

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

Naught of good that I have done

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

 

This is all my hope and peace

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

This is all my righteousness

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

 

Now by this I’ll overcome

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

Now by this I’ll reach my home

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

 

Glory! Glory! This I sing

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

All my praise for this I bring

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

 

REFRAIN:

 

Oh! precious, is the flow, that make me white as snow

No other fount I know, Nothing but the blood of Jesus

 

 

Hymn Devotions Day 26 – Thank You, Lord

/ taethne

DAY 26    –  Thank You, Lord

               I like the simplicity of this hymn very much. I first learned this as a chorus in children’s Sunday School, and only recently became acquainted with the verses.

While it is both right and appropriate to thank the Lord for the things He has done for us, greater still is thanking Him for just being who He is. He is a God of grace and while that is just one aspect of His character, it is definitely worthy to be praised.  Now, flowing from His grace, comes our salvation, as the chorus proclaims. That, too, is worthy of praise.

It is this wonderful salvation that makes us whole. It brings us to life spiritually. It allows us to commune once again with our God. It allows us to learn of Him and brings joy and excitement to a life that was once dull and listless.

I especially love the verse that says, “I prove His saving grace.” Yes, I do. If He can save me, He can save anyone. So often I run into people who think they are so bad, have done so much wrong, messed up their life so much, that they cannot be saved. They have lost hope. I simply open the Bible and show them people much worse than they, murderers, blasphemers, those demonically possessed, harlots, thieves and many more whom God called as His own.

Until He returns for me, or calls me home to Him, I will continue to thank Him for His great salvation.

 

Thank you, Lord, for being who You are. Thank you for deciding to reach down and change my life through Your Holy Spirit. Thank you for Your Son, who paid my penalty and purchased salvation for me. What else have I to say, Lord, than “Thank you?”

 

Thank You, Lord – Seth and Bessie Sykes

 

Some thank the Lord

For friends and home

For mercies sure and sweet

But I would praise Him

For His grace

In prayer I would repeat

 

Some thank Him for the flowers that grow

Some for the stars that shine

My heart is filled with joy and praise

Because I know He’s mine

 

I trust in Him from day to day

I prove His saving grace

I’ll sing this song of praise to Him

Until I see His face

 

Refrain:

 

Thank you Lord, for saving my soul

Thank you Lord, for making me whole

Thank you Lord, for giving to me

Thy great salvation so rich and free

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hymn Devotions Day 24 – Take Time To Be Holy

/ taethne

DAY 24    –  TAKE TIME TO BE HOLY

What a beautiful reminder of our need to spend time with Jesus. The only way to have a powerful, fruitful life in service for Jesus is to abide in Him. The only way to abide in Him is to spend time with Him in prayer and through Bible study.

I love the practical advice given here as well. Make friends with God’s children. We cannot go through this life on our own. God has made us to interact with others and to cooperate with them to reach the world with the gospel. We are to show mercy to others also. We are to do good works in Christ’s name so that people see it and give praise and glory to the Father.

In the busy, hustle and bustle of life, it is easy to forget to take time out for God. Thank goodness He did not forget to take time out of the running of the universe to send His Son down for us. Thank goodness Jesus took the time to teach His disciples, to show us how to live, to die on the cross for the payment of our sins. How churlish it would be not to take the time to spend with Him after He has done so much for us.

All of us have the same amount of time. No person has more or less than 24 hours in a day. How we use those hours will reflect on our priorities in life. How much time are you spending on becoming holy and pleasing to God.

 

Lord, help me take the time with You that is needed to become a person holy and useful. Keep me from prioritizing other things instead of spending time with You. Put my thoughts and actions under Your control and lead me by Your Spirit.

 

TAKE TIME TO BE HOLY – William Longstaff

 

Take time to be holy

Speak oft with the Lord

Abide in Him always

And feed on His Word

Make friends with God’s children

Help those who are weak

Forgetting in nothing

His blessing to seek

 

Take time to be holy

The world rushes on

Spend time in secret

With Jesus alone

By looking to Jesus

Like Him thou shalt be

Thy friends in thy conduct

His likeness shall see

 

Take time to be holy

Let Him be thy Guide

And run not before Him

Whatever betide

In joy or in sorrow

Still follow the Lord

And, looking to Jesus

Still trust in His Word

 

Take time to be holy

Be calm in thy soul

Each thought and each motive

Beneath His control

Thus led by His Spirit

To fountains of love

Thou soon shall be fitted

For service above

 

Hymn Devotions Day 22 – Rescue the Perishing

/ taethne

DAY 22 – RESCUE THE PERISHING

               This hymn shows me what attitude I need to have toward those who do not yet know Jesus. They are spiritually dead as well as physically dying, headed toward a Christ-less eternity. My heart should break for them and my recognition of their state should spur me to action.

I must tell them of a Savior. I must introduce them to my Lord. It is my duty. I am to see the world through Jesus’ eyes and do the work He commissioned me to do.

It is amazing to me that many times it is those who seem the furthest away from God are the ones who accept His offer of salvation the quickest. Even though they are insulting Him, denying Him, His Spirit continues to work on their heart, melting their stone cold indifference.

His grace penetrates, quickens, brings about a restoration of life to a dead soul. How beautiful it is remade, reborn.  What a wonderful privilege we have, to be part of His divine plan to bring a lost one into the fold of salvation. Our job is to sow the seed of the Word. The Spirit implants it and causes it to grow, eventually bringing about new life.

Go, cast your seed where the Spirit directs, and who knows, the soul you help rescue may be the one that is dearest to you.

 

Lord, help move us to understand the urgency of sharing Your gospel. Help us to understand the priority of throwing a lifeline, Your Word, to those who are drowning in sin. Help me to be moved with pity and compassion, so that I take my part in Your grand plan of redeeming souls to Yourself.

 

RESCUE THE PERISHING – Fanny J. Crosby

 

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying

Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave

Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen

Tell them of Jesus, the Mighty to save

 

Though they are slighting Him, still He is waiting

Waiting the penitent child to receive

Plead with them earnestly, plead with them gently

He will forgive if they only believe

 

Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter

Feelings lie buried that grace can restore

Touched by a loving heart, weakened by kindness

Chords that are broken will vibrate once more

 

Rescue the perishing, duty demands it

Strength for thy labor the Lord will provide

Back to the narrow way, patiently win them

Tell the poor wanderer a Savior has died

 

REFRAIN

 

Rescue the perishing

Care for the dying

Jesus is merciful

Jesus will save

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hymn Devotions Day 20 – How Firm A Foundation

/ taethne

DAY 20 – HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION

How I love the affirmation of Scripture in the very first verse of this wonderful hymn! We can count on God’s Word. It’s veracity gives us a rock solid foundation for our faith. Everything we need to have a godly life pleasing to Him is found in His Word. It is complete.

I also love the way the author depicts how God is with us, our Rock. We are able to trust Him. Every word, every promise He gives us, is true and we can lean on Him at all times. He will never leave us nor forsake us. There is no place we can go where His presence cannot be with us. How comforting that is.

That truth is also frightening. Whenever I go someplace a Christian ought not to go, whenever I place myself in situations I ought not to be in, I take Christ there with me. I expose Him to shame and grieve His Holy Spirit.

We are even shown, in verse 4, the truth that the fiery trials we encounter are merely to refine us, not destroy us. God lets us go through them not to bring harm to us, but to purify us and make us strong.

What a wise and loving God we serve. No matter what we go through, no matter who or what seeks to conquer us, we can stand firm with the shield of faith, steadfast in the knowledge that the Lord is our refuge and our strength, an ever present help in times of trouble.

 

Lord, what a blessing Your Holy Word is. Thank you so much for giving it to us. Help me to study it and to hide it in my heart, so that I might not sin against You. 

 

HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION – Robert Keen? George Keith?

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord

Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!

What more can He say than to you He has said

To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

 

“Fear not, I am with you, O be not dismayed

For I am Your God and will still give you aid

I’ll strengthen you, help you, and cause thee to stand

Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

 

When through the deep waters I call thee to go

The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow

For I will be with thee, your troubles to bless

And sanctify thee to your deepest distress

 

When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie

My grace all sufficient shall be thy supply

The flame shall not hurt thee I only design

Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine

 

The soul that on Jesus, hath leaned for repose

I will not, I will not desert to his foes

That soul though all hell shall endeavor to shake

I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!”

Hymn Devotions Day 19 – We Have Heard The Joyful Sound

/ taethne

DAY 19 – WE HAVE HEARD THE JOYFUL SOUND

Is there any message more wonderful than that of “Jesus saves?” As we receive the blessedness of redemption, we cannot help but to spread this gospel, this good news, to every land.

It is a message for people everywhere, in every land. It is a message that transcends cultures, language barriers, economic barriers, racial barriers. Lost, spiritually blind, dead in their trespasses and sins, dying without hope, people need this message. They need this message more than they need any other message because it brings the hope of God to their lives. It is appropriate to shout at births – Jesus saves. It is appropriate to shout at funerals – Jesus saves from eternal damnation! Look to Jesus and live.

How can we keep such a wonderful message to ourselves? When millions shall walk in gloomy darkness, how can we not share the gospel light? Jesus, and only Jesus, saves. Don’t look to anything else, only Jesus. Don’t rely on anyone or anything else, only Jesus. There is no other name under heaven by which we can be saved but Jesus’. Shout salvation full and free to all who will listen, because it is our song of victory over sin and death, Jesus saves!

 

            Lord, help me to be faithful in proclaiming the message of salvation to everyone. Let me be unashamed to proclaim “Jesus saves” to every person I meet. Help me to be not just filled with compassion for the lost, but moved to action by proclaiming the way of salvation through the person of Jesus Christ.

 WE HAVE HEARD THE JOYFUL SOUND – Priscilla Owens

We have heard the joyful sound

Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

Spread the tidings all around

Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

Bear the news to every land

Climb the steeps and cross the waves

Onward! ’tis our Lord’s command

Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

Waft it on the rolling tide

Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

Tell to sinners far and wide

Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

Sing ye islands of the sea

Echo back, ye ocean caves

Earth shall keep her jubilee

Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

 

Sing above the battle strife

Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

By His death and endless life

Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

Sing it softly through the gloom

When the heart for mercy craves

Sing in triumph o’er the tomb

Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

 

Give the winds a mighty voice

Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

Let the nations now rejoice

Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

Shout salvation full and free

Highest hills and deepest caves

This our song of victory

Jesus saves! Jesus saves!