Our Back in Our Battles

"O God the Lord, the Strength of my salvation, Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle" (Psalm 140:7). "A just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again" (Proverbs 24:16).

How often was there an attack
That went without detection,
When God was watching then our back
And gave our head protection!

How many times when we have slept
Was God our Guardian then?
How often, when we fell, He kept
And raised us up again!

Perhaps when we arrive in heaven
And look back on our life,
We'll see the times (much more than seven!)
God rescued us in strife.

Until that time we would be wise
To thank God constantly
For blessings hidden from our eyes
And those that we can see.

O Lord, before we even knew,
You sheltered us from loss
When all our sins were laid on You
Upon that cruel cross.

We thank You, Lord, because You are
The Strength of our salvation,
Our great Protector, never far
In every situation.

Searching for Surrender

"O Lord, Thou hast searched me, and known me.... Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:1,23,24). "My son, give Me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe My ways" (Proverbs 23:26).

O Lord, I hear Your voice so tender,
As You have searched my heart:
You're calling me for more surrender
Of every inward part.

O Lord, I'll add my invitation
To search my heart within:
I know I need examination
To purge my heart from sin.

O Lord, there surely is a need
To search me everyday
To purify my heart indeed
Of every wicked way.

O Lord, it is a joy to give
My heart each day to You;
There is no other way to live
Abundantly and true.

Thank You, Lord, for searching me
With eyes that watch with love,
Until the day I'll fully be
Surrendered up above.

Anchor of our Answer

"The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge.... That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that sent unto thee?" (Proverbs 22:12,19-21). "Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me" (Acts 27:25).

The anchor of our trust today
Is in God's written Word.
His prophecies now on display
Make unbelief absurd.

That we may put in Him our trust,
God gives us certainty;
His Word is like an anchor thrust,
Unmoved eternally.

That we may answer those who ask
Why we have confidence,
The Lord has given us the task
To show His evidence.

To manifest that God has spoken
To those who ask a reason,
We show His prophecies unbroken,
Completed in their season.

The written Scriptures that we hold,
Our Lord preserved unflawed.
We trust the things therein we're told,
For we believe in God.

Hopelessly Hardened

"A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, He directeth his way" (Proverbs 21:29). "And as he [Paul] spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.... Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian" (Acts 26:24,28).

The sinner with a hardened face
May speak with rage or apathy,
But either way he turns from grace
And misses heaven hopelessly.

Both Festus and Agrippa heard
The testimony that Paul gave.
One was angry; one was stirred,
But none of these responses save.

For both the one who will reject
The Lord with blasphemy like some,
Or simply chooses to neglect
Shall not escape the wrath to come.

O Lord, we thank You for Your voice
Which, by Your Spirit from above,
Persuaded us to make the choice
To turn to You and trust Your love.

Forming the Faithful

"A faithful man, who can find?.... The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly" (Proverbs 20:6,27). "Hananiah... was a faithful man, and feared God above many" (Nehemiah 7:2). "Saul, Saul.... I am Jesus whom thou persecutest..... I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness" (Acts 26:14-16).

We cannot find a faithful man
Unless God works within.
Apart from God there is no plan
To cleanse him from his sin.

A faithful man will fear the Lord
And live to give Him pleasure.
The smile of God is his reward;
God's purpose is his treasure.

Saul of Tarsus would have fought
Until his final breath
Unless the Lord in mercy sought
And ransomed him from death.

The plan of Saul was sinister
Before he heard God's call,
Yet God made him a minister,
The great apostle Paul.

O Lord, we need You everyday
To search our inward part
That You may have in us Your way
To form a faithful heart.

Activity of the Almighty

"I know the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did He in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.... the idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands" (Psalm 135:5,6,15).

The Lord Almighty made the skies,
The earth, and all the seas.
Creation clearly testifies:
God does what He will please.

An idol fashioned by a nation
With mouth, and eyes, and ears
Can never hold a conversation;
It neither sees nor hears.

The point is this: God has displayed
His truth by His BEHAVIOR,
Through everything that He has made
And sending us a Savior.

We know, O Lord, that You are great
By all that You have done.
Yet most of all we celebrate
The Gift of Your own Son.

Solace in Solitude

"Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.... The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it and is safe.... There is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:1,10,24).

There is a solace we must find
When we are all alone,
As in a solitude of mind
We draw near to God's throne.

This is where we find the tower
Of Jesus' lofty name
As here we are renewed with power
And solace that we claim.

This is where we find the Friend
That's closer than a brother;
This is when we comprehend
His love is like no other.

This is where we can retreat
To draw near to our Lord,
As fellowship with Him is sweet
And solace is restored.

This is where we are renewed
With solace by His grace
In times of quiet solitude
When we may seek His face.

Lord, we're lifted by Your love
To heights we could not climb,
To find Your solace from above
Within the quiet time.

Conscience with Confidence

"And herein to I exercise myself to have always a conscience void of offence toward God and toward men" (Acts 24:16).

If we would live without offence
Toward God and then to men,
Let's give to God the preference,
And clear our conscience then.

That doesn't mean that we ignore
What others may desire,
But God in all things comes before
What others may require.

Though others surely will despise
This standard we present,
As long as God esteems it wise,
We can be confident.

O Lord, we thank You for the peace
In living for Your pleasure.
So may all other standards cease
That do not meet this measure.

Will to Work

"So built we the wall; and the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work" (Nehemiah 4:6). "Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.... A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps" (Proverbs 16:3,9).

Nehemiah heard the call,
Along with others too,
To build again the broken wall
As God would have them do.

The people had a willing mind
To build as God had said.
So may we likewise be inclined,
And by the Lord be led.

For surely there's a work today
That isn't yet fulfilled
For every heart that will obey
The Lord's command to build.

Make us willing, Lord, and wise
To build where You assigned;
Not as we ourselves devise,
But as You have designed.

Orchestrated by Omniscience

"Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me" (Psalm 131:1,2). "And the night following, the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of Me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome" (Acts 23:11).

My life is like a tapestry
Designed with heaven's love;
It's like a brilliant symphony
Composed by God above.

Omniscience surely orchestrated
My personal salvation,
No less than when the Lord created
The work of all creation.

Reflecting on His work of grace
When sorrows had their season,
I know these also had their place
For God's omniscient reason.

The hand of God was on Paul's life,
In every trial near.
The Lord stood by him in the strife,
And gave to him good cheer.

And though I can't compare to Paul,
I am no less assured
That in my life God orders all
According to His Word.

I thank You, Lord, and well I should,
For how You orchestrate
The matters of my life for good,
In all things small and great.

Bold to Build

"The God of heaven, He will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build" (Nehemiah 2:20). "Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.... In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge" (Proverbs 14:1,26).

The God of heaven calls His own
To build with His instruction.
The only other option shown
Is self-imposed destruction.

It's option one or option two;
There is no option three.
We either build each day anew
Or tear down foolishly.

We're called to build with confidence
As unto God alone.
He is our Refuge and Defense,
The God of heaven's throne.

So let us now be bold to build
While it is called today,
That we may see our work fulfilled
Before we pass away.

O help us, Lord, and make us wise
To build as You command,
So when the storms of life arise,
Our work for You will stand.

Troubled Transgressor

"Good understanding giveth favor: but the way of transgressors is hard" (Proverbs 13:15). "And the Lord said... it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.... And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me? And I answered, Who art Thou, Lord? And He said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.... And I said, what shall I do, Lord?" (Acts 9:5, 22:7-10).

The transgressor ought to assess his behavior
And question himself in regard
To why he opposes the Lord and His favor,
Thus choosing the way that is hard.

Paul, the apostle, remembered so well
The road to Damascus that led
To trusting the Savior who saved him from hell,
Receiving His favor instead.

Troubled transgressor, how long will you wait?
Tomorrow is not guaranteed!
Now flee from transgression before it's too late,
When mercy shall no longer plead!

O Lord, we give thanks for Your refuge of grace
Awaiting all those who will turn
And flee from transgression by seeking Your face
To favor we never could earn!

Scalpel of Scripture

"There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.... Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad" (Proverbs 12:18,25). "Paul... said to the chief captain, May I speak unto thee?.... I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people" (Acts 21:37,39).

Like the piercings of a sword
That carelessly can maim,
If discretion is ignored
Our tongue can do the same.

Heaviness within the heart
May need a surgeon's glove
To use a word that will impart
The healing of God's love.

A scalpel in the surgeon's hand
Performs with great precision.
So let us likewise understand
Our Scriptural commission.

For we are called to rightly use
The Scripture from the Lord.
At times a scalpel we must choose
And other times a sword.

Lord, teach us in each situation
What Scripture is revealing,
Whether battling for salvation
Or bringing tender healing.

With or Without

"Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it; except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.... The fruit of the womb is His reward" (Psalm 127:1,3). "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise" (Proverbs 11:30). "The will of the Lord be done" (Acts 21:14).

The will of the Lord shall surely be done,
With or without us, for He is the Lord.
But we'll have the joy of seeing souls won
If with Him we labor to see this reward.

Our houses are built and cities are kept,
But not without God's attendance and grace.
For workmen and watchmen may just have well slept,
If we have forgotten to seek the Lord's face.

The fruit of the womb is a blessing we see
In children the Lord gives to cherish and train.
The fruit of the righteous is shown as a tree
Where God gives the increase of souls that we gain.

With or without us, Lord, You shall fulfill
The things You have purposed to do all along,
Yet we would partake in the joy of Your will,
For with You we're right, but without You we're wrong.

Compelling Compassion

"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him" (Psalm 126:5,6). "He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame" (Proverbs 10:5).

Our Lord's commandment now is "Go!"
Go forth to every nation,
And preach the Gospel that we know
Communicates salvation.

Our own compassion should compel
Our urgency with tears,
For those who blindly march to hell,
As now their judgment nears.

Our precious seed shall surely yield
Its fruit for those who toil
And go forth in the harvest field
Where hearts await as soil.

Now turn us, Lord, to do Your will
Since we have heard Your voice,
Compelled by Your compassion till
With sheaves we may rejoice.

Sparse Space

"And now for a little space, grace hath been showed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in His holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage" (Ezra 9:8).

Our God has now permitted space,
A little opportunity,
Extending to His people grace
To exercise it prudently.

A little space now has arrived,
A little window that God gave,
That we by grace may be revived
To show that Jesus Christ will save.

We know the window soon will close
To use this grace that we receive
To preach of Christ who died and rose
And lives to save all who believe.

So grant us wisdom, Lord, to live,
Redeeming time, while yet we may,
To use the grace You freely give
Within this moment called "today."

No More Nightmare

"If it had not been the LORD who was on our side.... then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul.... Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth" (Psalm 124:1-8). "And the hand of our God was upon us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and such as lay in wait by the way" (Ezra 8:31).

It's good for us to contemplate
Salvation with this thought:
Christ redeemed us from our fate,
But what if He had not?

How could we escape our sin
And our despair as well?
We'd see the end now closing in:
The precipice of hell!

Like a nightmare that remains
And worsens when we wake,
How could we escape the pains
Of hell's approaching lake?

But God descended from above
To take the sinner's place
And thus delivered us with love
Through His amazing grace!

O Lord, how lovely is the dawn
Since we awake with You!
The nightmare is forever gone,
For You made all things new!

Error of Ease

"Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud" (Psalm 123:4). "As a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life" (Proverbs 7:23). "The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all them that forsake Him" (Ezra 8:22).

Mockers scorn and take their ease;
They give no thought to seeking God.
They do not think God hears or sees,
And those just like them will applaud.

The bird that races to the snare
Portrays the error of their way:
They cast aside all prudent care,
Until their final, fatal day.

Lord, we thank You, for Your favor
Toward each one who seeks Your face:
All who seek You find the Savior,
And all who don't shall find disgrace.

Help us, Lord, to hear Your Word
Above this world's mindless scorn.
Remembering that careless bird,
We ought to pray for those we warn!

Jerusalem's Joy

"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD. Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.... Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee" (Psalm 122:1,2,6).

Pray for Jerusalem; pray for her peace.
Pray for her gladness for which she has yearned.
One day her sorrows and conflicts shall cease,
As soon as the Prince of her peace has returned.

Pray that the day shall be hastened toward
Jerusalem's joy; O the prospect is sweet,
When we shall go into the house of the LORD,
And within the gates of Jerusalem meet!

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for this expectation
That fills us with joy: You are coming again!
Jerusalem's peace and her great jubilation
Approaches each day! Even so, Lord, amen!

Guarding our Going

"The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore" (Psalm 121:8). "Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses... according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him. And.... to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. For Ezra has prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments" (Ezra 7:6-10). "Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace. For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city" (Acts 18:9,10).

Now be not afraid, but rather be ready,
Assured that the Lord is preserving your soul.
The good hand of God will strengthen and steady
The hand of His servants who give Him control.

Ezra was ready to go where God led,
And so God was with him to show him His favor.
Preparing his heart to do what God said,
He taught what he modeled by his own behavior.

Paul was instructed by God in a vision
To stay in the city, and keep right on speaking.
God's hand would guard him throughout his commission,
As God drew the hearts of those truly seeking.

O Lord, we give thanks for Your promise to keep
And guide all our going and our coming in.
Receiving this promise, Lord, help us to reap
The souls You are drawing and saving from sin.

Waging War

"My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace. I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war" (Psalm 120:6,7).

It's time for us to finally see
The battle lines are drawn,
As Satan's great hostility,
Though subtle, rages on.

As long as Satan still is loose,
Our warfare cannot cease,
For there shall never be a truce
With him who hates God's peace.

Throughout the days on earth we dwell
Until our latest hour,
We shall be waging war with hell
And its seductive power.

We shouldn't be discouraged now,
For God is on His throne,
And He will readily endow
His grace to all His own.

O Lord, until we're home with You,
Uphold us by Your grace
To fight for what we know is true,
Whatever we may face.

Scrutinized by the Scriptures

"O Lord, give me understanding according to Thy Word" (Psalm 119:169). "Let there be a search made... whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem.... Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls.... and therein was a record thus written" (Ezra 6:17-7:2). "These were more noble... in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so" (Acts 17:11).

Let all things be scrutinized
By God's Word everyday,
For thereby truth is realized
By what the Scriptures say.

Let there be a search that's made
To see if what we've heard
Agrees with all that is conveyed
In God's unerring Word.

Search the perfect Word of God,
For God will thereby show
If what we have been told is flawed
Or whether it is so.

Thank You, Lord, for all we find
In Scriptures' holy light.
Give us readiness of mind,
Discerning what is right.

Watching our Ways

"Then rose up Zerubbabel... and Jeshua... and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them. At that time came to them... companions, and said... Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?.... What are the names of the men that make this building? But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease" (Ezra 5:2-5). "I have kept Thy precepts and Thy testimonies: for all my ways are before Thee" (Psalm 119:168).

The eye of our God is upon us today
To cause us to build with His peace.
Who in the world can stand in our way
If God has not told us to cease?

A sparrow shall never be cast to the ground,
That's hidden from God's watching eyes,
Nor ever on earth was an empire found
Without God's permission to rise.

All of our ways, and not merely our deeds,
Before God are thoroughly known.
He calls us to pray, though He knows all our needs,
That we may draw near to His throne.

It's as in the days when the prophets proclaimed
The commandment of God to rebuild,
And workers arose, unafraid, unashamed,
Determined to do what God willed.

Knowing Your eye is upon us, O Lord,
Now teach us to live by this measure:
To seek everyday to achieve the reward
Of heartily doing Your pleasure.

Paul's Pause

"I will pour out My Spirit unto you, I will make known My words unto you" (Proverbs 1:23). "They [Paul and Silas]... were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the Word in Asia... they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.... And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: there stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him saying, Come over to Macedonia, and help us.... The Lord had called us for to preach the Gospel unto them" (Acts 16:6-10).

There is a calling by God's Spirit
That may not fit our plan.
Those with ears to hear will hear it;
It does not come from man.

Paul and Silas had arranged
To preach where they intended,
But God the Holy Spirit changed
Their plans they then amended.

The Spirit of the Lord forbade
The course of their decision,
But then a Macedonian prayed:
"Come, help us!" in Paul's vision.

O Lord, we know there is a cause
Much greater than our own,
So teach us how to rightly pause
Until Your will is shown.

Now Near

"They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from Thy law. Thou art near, O Lord, and all Thy commandments are truth" (Psalm 119:150,151).

Many who distort God's way
Continue to draw near,
But God is faithful everyday,
And He is with us here.

This is where we find our peace
And steady confidence:
The love of God shall never cease,
And He is our Defense.

Thank You, Lord, for Your commands
That draw us near to You,
For in the end Your counsel stands
Victorious and true.

Purely Preserved

"The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, Thou shalt preserve them from this generation forever.... Thy Word is very pure: therefore Thy servant loveth it. I am small and despised: yet do not I forget Thy precepts" (Psalm 12:6,7, 119:140,141). "Every Word of God is pure: He is a Shield unto them that put their trust in Him. Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar" (Proverbs 30:5,6).

It matters not if I'm despised,
For I am just the messenger:
The Gospel is uncompromised,
For every Word of God is pure.

As silver seven times is tried
In the refiner's fire,
The Word of God is purified
And kept by His desire.

Thus we see God's miracle
Through every generation:
His Word remains impeccable
By promised preservation.

And so we can be very sure,
In every last detail,
The Word of God shall still endure;
His promise shall not fail.

Lord, thank You for Your Word we love,
Preserved for us today,
As settled as Your throne above
Which shall not pass away.

Longing for Light

"The entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.... I longed for Thy commandments" (Psalm 119:130,131). "The poor and deceitful man meet together: the LORD lighteneth both their eyes" (Proverbs 29:13).

The entrance of God's Word gives light
To all those who will long
To know the truth, to do what's right,
And turn from what is wrong.

The light of God will clearly show
The truth of our condition,
And thereby sinners come to know
Their fitness for perdition.

God's Word will thus illuminate
The dark, deceitful way,
And show the debt of sin so great
That sinners can't repay.

How sweet then is the revelation
The Word of God imparts:
That God extends His great salvation
To poor, deceitful hearts!

O Lord, we did not realize
How much we did not see
Until You opened then our eyes
To view our poverty.

We thank You, Lord, for light that shined
When Your words entered in
To open eyes which once were blind
And save us from our sin!

Voicing vs. Voiding

"It is time for Thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void Thy law.... Therefore I esteem all Thy precepts concerning all things to be right, and I hate every false way" (Psalm 119:126-128). "The unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren. Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the Word of His grace" (Acts 14:2,3).

There is a time to lend our voice
To counter those who void God's Word.
There is a time to make a choice,
And thus defend the truth we've heard.

Let us not be so deceived
To think that evil takes a break;
Surely we who have believed
Should not be making that mistake!

The serpent, speaking in the garden,
Began by asking, "Hath God said?"
How subtly Satan still may harden
The hearts by his deception led!

It's time to work against the lie
That seeks to void God's holy truth!
It's time to boldly testify,
To study, and to train our youth!

O Lord, we see the enemy
On every side still seeks to void
Your truth and Your authority,
Deceiving those he has destroyed.

O Lord, we know the time is right
To labor in Your harvest field
And stand relentless in the fight
With faith in You, our perfect Shield.

Lord, give us help against this flood
Of falsehood in this time and place.
We wrestle not with flesh and blood,
Yet we advance Your Word of grace.

Persuaded to Persist

"Hold Thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto Thy statutes continually" (Psalm 119:117). "Many... followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God" (Acts 13:43).

Continue in the grace of God,
For this is where your safety is.
He guides us with His staff and rod,
And watches over each of His.

In His grace we follow on,
While opportunities exist.
Before the light of day is gone,
We are persuaded to persist.

Turning neither left nor right,
Persisting in His perfect will,
We shall walk within His light
And by His grace continue still.

Hold us up, Lord, in Your grace
To set our hearts on things above,
As we delight to seek Your face,
Persisting in Your faithful love.

Stirred and Stayed

"The LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying... The LORD God of heaven... hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem" (2 Chronicles 36:22,23). "I have inclined mine heart to perform Thy statutes always, even unto the end" (Psalm 119:112). He [God] gave testimony, and said, I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after Mine own heart, which shall fulfill all My will" (Acts 13:22).

God has stirred within His own
A heart inclined to do His will,
Stayed on His eternal throne,
Who all His purpose shall fulfill.

Such was Cyrus, Persia's king,
And so was David stirred and stayed.
So may we sincerely bring
A heart like these who have obeyed.

Lord, You know our inclination
To wander and to drag our feet.
We would, with fuller consecration,
All Your will for us complete.

So let our hearts, O Lord, be stirred
And stayed by Your sustaining grace
To thus obey Your precious Word,
Pursue Your heart, and seek Your face.

Despising Deception

"O how I love Thy law! It is my meditation all the day.... Through Thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way" (Psalm 119:97,104). "They mocked the messengers of God, and despised His words, and misused His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose... till there was no remedy (2 Chronicles 36:16).

Something happens to our view
When understanding is obtained:
We will love more what is true,
And falsehood shall be more disdained.

Understanding will embrace
The truth of God that makes us free,
Yet scorners mock amazing grace,
Until there is no remedy.

Throughout the precepts of our God,
We have the truth that lights our path;
We therefore hate the way that's trod
By souls deceived who march to wrath.

Some people love the "tolerance"
Which says that all ways are the same,
But falsehood has its consequence
That leads the soul to endless shame.

Lord, we thank You that today
We have the truth we love to tell:
Christ Jesus is the only Way
That saves us from eternal hell!

The Wicked have Waited

"The wicked have waited to destroy me: but I will consider Thy testimonies" (Psalm 119:95). "Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place: for a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again" (Proverbs 24:15,16). "Peter was therefore kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers.... behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison... and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands" (Acts 12:5-7).

How many times has the wicked one waited
To steal, to kill, and destroy
The child of God with his weapons of hatred,
Which God would not let him employ!

God has not left us to wrestle alone
Against all these powers arrayed,
Since we are exhorted to come to His throne
For mercy and grace when we've prayed.

The wicked have waited (yet waited in vain)
To spoil the resting place found
Where prayer reaches heaven and breaks every chain,
Releasing those Satan has bound.

O Lord, we give thanks for Your marvelous love
That spreads over us Your protection.
With praise we will send our petitions above,
And rest in Your own intercession!

Lifting the Layer

"For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget Thy statutes.... All Thy commandments are faithful" (Psalm 119:83,86). "Labor not to be rich. Cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.... Be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long. For surely there is an end, and thine expectation shall not be cut off. Hear thou, My son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way" (Proverbs 23:4-19).

Lifting the layer of smoke from my vision,
The Word of God makes it all plain:
This is the day of our Lord's great commission,
And all other riches are vain.

We ought to be fearing the Lord all day long,
And measuring things by their end.
God will illumine the right and the wrong,
As on Him we learn to depend.

Temporal riches shall make themselves wings,
The wisdom of earth shall be done,
But Jesus shall reign as King of all kings,
And exalted as God the Son.

Don't let the smoke that this world is blowing
Now block from your vision what's true.
The Word of our God is ceaselessly showing
All things as they are from God's view.

Lord, nothing is hidden from Your holy eyes;
Until the smoke clears away,
Guide us with truth, and we shall be wise,
Trusting in You, come what may!

Maker and Mentor

"Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn Thy commandments" (Psalm 119:73). "The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the Maker of them all" (Proverbs 22:2).

The Lord is the Maker and Mentor of all;
Some pay attention, and some have refused.
Those who reject His instruction will fall,
Remaining in darkness, deceived and confused.

How foolish it is to refuse the instruction
Of God who has made us and fashioned our hearts!
They walk on in darkness to their own destruction
And cast aside mercy and truth God imparts.

The rich and the poor, the high and the low,
And everyone else who is somewhere between,
Have all been invited to come and to know
The truth that can free them and make their souls clean.

Maker and Mentor, we're made by Your hands,
And You are the One who instructs us as well.
Give us a heart that still more understands
Your love that constrains us and saves us from hell.

Here to Hear

"And it came to pass, when the king [Josiah] had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes. And the king commanded... Go, inquire of the Lord... concerning the words of the book that is found" (2 Chronicles 34:19-21). "A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, He directeth His way" (Proverbs 21:29). "And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends. And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him... and said.... Thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore we are all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God" (Acts 10:24-33).

All who have an ear to hear
And have a heart that will obey,
Will find the message very clear
That God commands to us today.

The stubborn heart with hardened face
May hear, but will not understand
His need for God's redeeming grace,
And thus resists His saving hand.

Josiah and Cornelius
Are bright examples in God's Word,
Who needed, like the rest of us,
God's counsel that they gladly heard.

And now, O Lord, may we be found
Prepared by Your indwelling Spirit,
To understand what You expound
And thus obey, not only hear it.

Hastening to Holiness

"I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto Thy testimonies. I made haste, and delayed not to keep Thy commandments" (Psalm 119:59,60). "Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man, who can find?.... Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?.... Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?.... Mercy and truth preserve the King, and His throne is upholden by mercy" (Proverbs 20:6,9,24,28).

I thought on my ways from my point of view,
But something just didn't seem right.
Despite the indifference of others, I knew
That I was condemned in God sight.

O where could I hide? How foolish the thought,
For no one can hide from the Lord!
I ran out of options until I had sought
For mercies from God unexplored.

How gracious was God who prompted my prayer
With a heart that was utterly humbled,
To cry out to Him, "O God, if You're there,"
And similar words which I fumbled.

Why should He hear me? Why would He incline
His ear to attend to my cry?
Certainly not for some goodness of mine,
But for His own love; that is why!

My prayer was so awkward! It hardly made sense,
But that didn't matter to God,
For heaven rejoices when one soul repents,
Though grammar and prose may be flawed!

I thank You today, Lord, for loving correction,
With counsel and wisdom so sweet,
So when I'm off course, I can change my direction,
And hasten to You with my feet!

Sojourners' Songs

"Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage" (Psalm 119:54).

The pilgrim passing through this land
For heaven's shoreline longs,
And statutes of our Lord's command
Comprise sojourners' songs.

These are the songs that dwell on things
Where Christ now reigns above.
These are the songs the pilgrim sings,
Rejoicing in His love.

These are the songs that fill the hearts
Of all who have adored
The Lamb of God who now imparts
Salvation from the Lord.

O Lord, as we're sojourning through
The paths of peace or strife,
The songs we sing rejoice in You,
The Way, the Truth, the Life!

Gift to Go

"I will speak of Thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed" (Psalm 119:46). "A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men" (Proverbs 18:16). "And the Lord said.... Saul of Tarsus.... is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel" (Acts 9:11-15).

Go to elderly and to the youth,
To rich and poor, to high and low,
And bring to them the Gospel truth,
That every person needs to know.

Go to those who need to hear,
And use the gift that God intends
To widen and define the sphere
Of those to whom He thereby sends.

Go, and never be ashamed
To bear the name of Jesus Christ,
That name above all others named,
Who for our souls was sacrificed!

Lord, we look to You each day
To send us on Your chosen path
To preach of Christ and boldly say:
No other name can save from wrath!

Rest upon Reality

"[Hezekiah] spake comfortably to them saying, Be strong and courageous; be not afraid or dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: with him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah, king of Judah" (2 Chronicles 32:6-8).

Rest upon the Word of God
Obeying His command:
Guided by His staff and rod,
He'll lead us with His hand.

Rest upon reality,
And make it clearly known:
Our God who reigns eternally
Will not forsake His own!

Rest in God without alarm;
Fear not the hosts of hell:
With us is God's mighty arm
Who fights for us as well.

Look again to Calvary,
Recalling that great fight!
Rest upon reality,
Rejoicing in that sight.

The natural mind, of course, can't see
Our clear advantage now,
But one day every single knee
Shall to our Savior bow.

And every tongue shall then confess
Christ Jesus as the Lord,
Yet now we trust His faithfulness,
Which others have ignored.

Lord, we'll rest upon Your love,
That sweet reality,
Until we're face to face above
And for eternity.

Readiness to Run

"My soul cleaveth to the dust.... My soul melteth for heaviness.... Remove from me the way of lying, and grant me Thy law graciously.... I will run the way of thy commandments, when Thou shalt enlarge my heart" (Psalm 119:25-32).

Lord, I hear You gently calling
To run a race that's steady.
The flesh is weak, my is soul is stalling,
My spirit, though, is ready.

My soul is cleaving to the dust,
And weighted down, is heavy.
Yet I would run! O Lord, I must!
O Lord, please make me ready!

Remove from me the lying ways
That always make me stumble.
Let me focus on Your praise,
Surrendered, Lord, and humble.

O Lord, uphold me by Your grace
With strength that I may run
With patience my appointed race
To hear You say: Well done!

Precious Prayers

"Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold the wondrous things out of Thy law" (Psalm 119:18). "The prayer of the upright is His delight" (Proverbs 15:8). "The priests... blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to His holy dwelling place, even to heaven" (2 Chronicles 30:27). "And they stoned Stephen calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge" (Acts 7:59,60).

God delights upright prayers;
He's touched by all our tears,
And so we cast on Him our cares,
Assured He cares and hears.

Sometimes when our heart is stirred,
A Scripture we recall
May capture then a prayerful word
That aptly says it all.

We may pray for opened eyes
That we may thus behold
That wondrous things of God so wise
That prophets had foretold.

We may pray that God will bless
The souls for whom we plead,
For peace in times of deep distress,
For help in time of need.

We pray for help, Lord, by Your favor,
That we may live with power
And glorify our Lord and Savior
Throughout our final hour.

Healing for the Heart

"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his heart? By taking heed thereto according to Thy Word. With my whole heart have I sought Thee: O let me not wander from Thy commandments. Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee" (Psalm 119:9-11). "A multitude of the people... had not cleansed themselves... but Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, the good LORD pardon every one that prepareth his heart to seek God... and the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people" (2 Chronicles 30:18,19).

There is a way to cleanse the heart
That surely should be heeded:
First seek the Lord who will impart
The cleansing that is needed.

It isn't only guarded thought
With memory verses learned,
For cleansing comes when we have sought
And for the Lord have yearned.

O let us seek to love the Lord
With all our heart and soul,
And we shall surely be restored,
For He shall make us whole.

Ah! Then the Word of God shall speak
With words that we shall treasure,
When we determine first to seek
And find in Him our pleasure!

Recalling Hezekiah's prayer
This cleansing was revealed:
For every heart that would prepare
To seek the Lord, He healed.

Teach us, Lord, to seek Your face
And hide Your Word within,
That You may cleanse us by Your grace,
And keep our hearts from sin.

Aim of Ambassadors

"A faithful ambassador is health" (Proverbs 13:17). "And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah.... So the posts went with letters from the king... saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the Lord God.... Yield yourselves unto the LORD.... for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful.... So the posts passed from city to city... but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them. Nevertheless divers... humbled themselves and came" (2 Chronicles 30:1-11).

The aim and the priority
Ambassadors should hold
Is representing faithfully
The message they are told.

Let's represent the Gospel well
In word and in behavior
That has the power to save from hell
Through Jesus Christ our Savior!

The Gospel may be laughed to scorn
By those to whom we're sent;
Be faithful nonetheless to warn
The sinner to repent!

When Hezekiah reigned as king
He sent an invitation
With those who faithfully would bring
The message of salvation.

Some then scorned, but others came;
It is the same today:
So let us faithfully proclaim
The Gospel we convey.

So help us, Lord, to preach the wealth
Of life that never ends,
And thereby show Your saving health
The Gospel yet extends.

The Reason we're Right

"He did that which was RIGHT in the sight of the Lord.... for so was the commandment of the LORD by His prophets" (2 Chronicles 29:2,25). "It is better to trust the Lord than to put confidence in man.... The Stone which the builders refused is become the Head Stone of the corner" (Psalm 118:8,22). "The thoughts of the righteous are RIGHT.... The way of a fool in right in his own eyes" (Proverbs 12:5,15). "If this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God" (Acts 5:38,39).

God is right, and so are we
Whenever we obey His Word.
Some, no doubt, will disagree,
And want their folly to be heard.

God is right. That will not change,
No matter what the fool may say.
Though the world counts it strange,
God will surely have His way.

God is true, yet fools may fight
Against the Lord to their destruction.
The righteous in the end are right
Because they follow God's instruction.

Prophetic truth that God has planned,
Mere man shall ever overthrow!
The counsel of the Lord shall stand
Against the lies of every foe.

Lord, we place our trust in You,
Rejoicing that we now are sure
That every word of God is true,
And all Your counsel shall endure.

Not Now Negligent

"Hezekiah began to reign.... And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord.... And he brought the priests and Levites... and said unto them, Hear me ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers.... My sons, be not now negligent: for the LORD hath chosen you to stand before Him, and that ye should minister unto Him" (2 Chronicles 29:1-11). "The angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life" (Acts 5:19,20).

King Hezekiah did not waste
His time or opportunities,
But rather moved with prudent haste
To do what God would please.

The admonition of this king
Is surely relevant
In this our day, in everything,
To be not negligent.

It is as when the angel came
Into the prison strife,
And doors were opened to proclaim
The message of this life.

O let us not be negligent
For such a time as this,
While souls who perish may repent
And enter heaven's bliss.

O Lord, we wouldn't now be slack,
But leap at Your command,
And, thus obeying, never lack
The grace You give to stand.

Beloved Because

"I love the Lord, because He hath heard my voice and my supplications.... For Thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling" (Psalm 116:1,8). "The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it" (Proverbs 10:22).

The reasons that I love the Lord
Are very plain to see:
Behold the blessings He outpoured
Because He first loved me!

I love the Lord because He heard
My voice and supplication;
When fear within my heart was stirred,
I cried in desperation.

The Lord not only heard my voice,
Responding to my prayer,
He made my trembling heart rejoice
When I was in despair!

Death was coming; that I knew,
But no one seemed to care.
I cried at last, O Lord, to You,
And You were waiting there.

You saved my soul from endless fears!
You came when I was calling,
And drawing near, You dried my tears,
And kept my feet from falling.

The blessings I could not afford
To me You richly gave.
But Oh! How much it cost You, Lord,
To ransom those You save!

I love You, Lord of my salvation,
For all Your blessings given.
I would, with greater consecration,
By grateful love be driven.

Senseless vs. Sovereign

"Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased" (Psalm 115:2,3). "Lord, Thou art God, which hast made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: who by the mouth of Thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together.... For of a truth against Thy holy Child Jesus... the Gentiles and the people of Israel were gathered together, for to do whatsoever Thy hand and Thy counsel determined before to be done" (Acts 4:24-28).

Why indeed should nations say,
Where is now their God?
The Lord our God made night and day
And formed us from the sod.

How senseless, then, that nations trust
In idols that they made,
Since God, who formed us from the dust,
His sovereignty displayed!

Those who choose to not believe
Become like idols too,
Who senselessly cannot perceive
The things so plainly true!

Our God displays His sovereignty,
Through all of His creation.
Yet more than this, we surely see
His hand in our salvation!

Our sovereign God revealed His hand
Before concerning Christ,
And prophesied who would withstand
His Son they sacrificed.

O Lord our God, how great Your are,
As all Your work proclaims:
It pleased You to create each star
And give them all their names!

It pleased You, Lord, to save each soul
Through Christ who brought salvation,
And we are pleased to now extol
Our Lord with adoration!

Power Point

"What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest?.... Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord" (Psalm 114:5,7). "They asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them.... Be it known unto you all, and all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ... doth this man stand before you whole.... Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:7-12).

Why did Egypt let them go
Who once had been their slaves?
The power came, we surely know,
From Israel's God who saves!

Why then was the Red Sea parted,
And Jordan driven back?
God would finish what He started;
His power wasn't slack.

And by what power, may we ask,
Did Peter heal the lame?
He had no power for that task,
But in Christ Jesus' name!

And we as well in this late hour
Will point to Jesus Christ:
There is no other saving power
That ever has sufficed!

He is the Head, the Corner Stone,
Which builders had refused.
Salvation comes from Him alone;
Let no one be confused!

O Lord, we thank You that today
The Gospel still is full
Of power that will point the way
To Christ who saves the soul!

Sun Dawn to Sun Down

"From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same, the LORD'S name is to be praised" (Psalm 113:3). "Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign.... and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.... But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God" (2 Chronicles 26:3-16).

Our life begins like morning's dawn;
How soon declines the sun
When opportunities are gone,
And life on earth is done!

Our life is like the fleeting hours
That quickly span the day,
For youth declines with all its powers,
And soon we fly away.

How many kings began so well
And sought the Lord in youth,
But then in later years they fell
When they forsook the truth!

How dependent was their strength
The Chronicles record:
They prospered only for the length
They truly sought the Lord!

It is as when Uzziah reigned,
And God had made him strong
Until his trust in God had waned,
Then everything went wrong.

Preserve us, Lord, to give You praise
For Your unfailing love,
From dawn to dusk throughout our days
Until we meet above.

Direction with Discretion

"A good man... will guide his affairs with discretion.... his heart is fixed, trusting the LORD" (Psalm 112:5-7). "Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter.... My son, keep thy Father's commandment.... it shall lead thee... it shall keep thee... it shall talk with thee" (Proverbs 06:5-22). "And with many other words did he [Peter] testify, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation" (Acts 2:40).

This is not the time or place
To live our days with indiscretion.
These are evil days we face:
We ought to walk with circumspection.

God has given His command
To lead, to keep, and with us talk;
Thus He guides us with His hand
To show us how we ought to walk.

Save yourself as would a roe
Who sees the hunter and will run.
Trust the Lord, and He will show
The things to do and things to shun.

For though the Lord would surely guide
And set all hearts on things above,
The path that leads to hell is wide
For those who yet refuse His love.

Lord, guide us with Your staff and rod,
And talk with us upon our path,
And keep us in the love of God
That saved our grateful souls from wrath!

Great and Gracious

"The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.... He hath made His wonderful works to be remembered: the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.... He sent redemption unto His people" (Psalm 111:2-9).

How great the works of God are found
By those who have explored
His wondrous treasures that abound!
What pleasure they afford!

How gracious is the Lord who makes
His works to be preserved.
Behold the Lamb of God who takes
The judgment we deserved!

How sweet the memory of His love
Compelling Jesus Christ
To leave His majesty above
And then be sacrificed!

O Lord, we ponder with great pleasure
That we are Your redeemed!
In You we find our greatest Treasure,
More than we could have dreamed!

Pentecost Power

"Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning" (Psalm 110:3). "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you..... When the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind.... And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost" (Acts 1:8, 2:1-4).

O people of God, now indwelt by His Spirit:
This is the day of God's power!
His coming approaches, yet as we draw near it,
There's grace now to live in this hour!

O people of God, shall not we be willing
In the beauties of holiness given,
The womb of new birth, and His Spirit's filling,
To thus by His power be driven?

O people of God, we know it so well
That His Pentecost day has arrived:
The Spirit of God has been sent to indwell
All His people who thus are revived.

Lord Jesus, we know that You're coming again,
With power to reign on this earth.
Yet surely we ought not to wait until then,
To live by the grace of new birth!

Divine Direction

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct Thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5,6). "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
Lean on His wisdom, and not on your own.
In every place where you stay or depart,
Acknowledge the Savior, who makes His way known.

Trust in the Lord so that He may reveal
His marvelous counsel in all its perfection.
Be always aware that His presence is real,
And He will divinely provide His direction.

Trust in the Lord and His Spirit to guide,
Directing your paths with His power above.
Whether He calls you to go or abide,
He will direct you in His perfect love.

O Lord, You are worthy of all of our praise,
Unequaled in wisdom, in love, and in worth.
Wherever You send us, in all of our ways,
Make us Your witnesses throughout the earth.

Fixed on Following

"O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory" (Psalm 108:1). "Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following.... Peter, seeing him, saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me" (John 21:20-22).

O God, I have no other place
To fix my heart but You.
In You alone is saving grace,
And mercies ever new.

At times I turn around to see
What other men may do.
Your sweet reproof then comes to me,
Now "What is that to you?"

Lord, I thank You that You give
This simple admonition
That we may by this standard live
Fulfilling Your commission.

So keep our eyes upon You, Lord,
To follow where You lead,
And fix our hearts on the reward
Of loving You indeed.

Oh Observe!

"O give thanks unto the LORD, for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy.... Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!.... Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord" (Psalm 107:1,2,8,43).

Oh that men would look around
And open up their eyes
To see the lovingkindness found
In God, so good and wise!

His works in all creation speak
Of mercies from the Lord
From every splendid mountain peak
To ocean depths explored!

Above the wonders of creation
Which we cannot exhaust,
We see the work of His salvation,
Redeeming thus the lost!

Lord, Your works are wonderful,
As Your redeemed can say,
In Christ, Your Gift unspeakable,
Who washed our sins away!

We pray that we may yet observe
His beauty more and more,
That we with greater love may serve
The Christ whom we adore!

Resurrection Realization

"Mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping.... She turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou? She, supposing Him to be the gardener, saith unto Him, Sir, if thou have borne Him hence, tell me where thou hast laid Him, and I will take Him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto Him, Rabboni, which is to say, Master" (John 20:11-16).

On that resurrection morn,
When no one knew who moved the stone,
Mary's heart was so forlorn,
As at the tomb she wept alone.

On that resurrection dawn,
She did not know that Jesus rose.
She only knew that He was gone,
Yet not wrappings of His clothes.

On that resurrection day,
We read that Mary thought that now
She turned to hear the gardener say
With gentle words: "Why weepest thou?"

In that resurrection place,
Our Savior spoke a single word:
"Mary!" What a word of grace
That thrilled her heart by what she heard!

Did the angels also shout
In heaven when they heard her voice?
"Rabboni!" Gone was every doubt!
Christ had risen! O rejoice!

Lord, we thank You that you gave
This glad account of resurrection
To thrill us as we see Your grave,
And find it vacant on inspection!

Faith on Facts

"When they came to Jesus, and saw that He was dead already, they brake not His legs: but one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For these things were done, that the Scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of Him shall not be broken. And again another Scripture saith, They shall look on Him whom they pierced" (John 19:33-36).

Christ was always in command,
Even after He was killed.
Every prophecy would stand;
Every Scripture was fulfilled.

John was present to record
The precious details of those acts
Upon the cross of Christ our Lord
That we might rest our faith on facts.

The legs of Jesus were not broken
When the soldiers found Him dead;
They did exactly as was spoken,
As the psalmist clearly said.

Yet a soldier pierced His side,
As Zechariah had foretold.
And thus the Scriptures testified
What God allowed, and would withhold.

Lord, we thank You that You've shown
By Scriptures that You would fulfill,
That You were ruling on Your throne,
As now You are and always will.

Boast of the Battle

"And as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said... Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe His prophets, so shall ye prosper" (2 Chronicles 20:20). "Behold the Man!.... Behold your King!.... Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part, and also His coat.... but cast lots for it... that the Scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted My raiment among them, and for My vesture they did cast lots" (John 19:5-24).

Jehoshaphat with confidence
Went forth with Judah's host;
He stood to make his great defense
And in the Lord to boast.

He called them to believe the Lord
And heed His prophets' light,
Established as they moved toward
The battle God would fight.

And so it was when they arrived
The saving work was done!
Their enemies had not survived,
And none escaped; not one!

Another battle prophesied
That God would fight as well,
Portraying Christ as crucified,
Would save our souls from hell.

We did not need to stand and fight:
God fought for us and won!
Believe His prophets: they were right
Regarding God the Son!

See the details of those thoughts
That David looked toward,
Parting raiment, casting lots
For vesture from our Lord!

O Lord, we came and found the spoil;
There's nothing left to do!
Upon Your cross that awful toil
Was finished there by You!

But we may worship and surrender
Our hearts in grateful love
And boast in Christ our great Defender
With all the saints above!

Expecting Eyes

"O our God... we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon Thee. And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives , and their children. Then upon Jahaziel (lit.,"God will cause to see")... came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation, and he said... Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's" (2 Chronicles 20:12-15).

O, our God, we have no might,
Neither know we what to do
In this battle that we fight,
Unless we keep our eyes on You.

The hosts of hell are now arrayed;
We wrestle not with flesh and blood.
But You have said, "Be not afraid,"
Though armies gather like a flood.

As in the days Your people stood
Before You with expecting eyes,
We look to You, for You are good,
Almighty, merciful, and wise.

We hear the words the prophet said:
"The battle is not yours but God's."
There is no further need to dread
Or calculate apparent odds!

These things are written in Your Book
Reminding us You never fail.
Lord, here we stand; to You we look:
The gates of hell shall not prevail.

Cursed Cup

"The curse causeless shall not come" (Proverbs 26:2). "Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon Him, went forth.... Then said Jesus... The cup which my Father hath given Me, shall I not drink it?" (John 18:4,11).

Our Lord and Savior drank the cup
The Father gave to Him;
It was our curse that filled it up
With wrath that reached the brim.

Our Lord would not refuse to drink,
Nor would He even pause.
The love that led Him to that brink
Compelled Him toward that cause.

His justice must be satisfied;
Our penalty was large.
The curse against us testified,
And GUILTY was the charge!

O Lord, how can we ever thank
And praise You as we ought
For all that awful curse You drank
And all the blessing brought?

Sanctifying Savior

"Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy Word is truth. As Thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth" (John 17:17-19).

Sanctified by Jesus Christ
And to the lost we're sent,
To show that He was sacrificed,
And call them to repent.

Sanctified to now declare
Our Savior has been raised,
We preach the Gospel everywhere,
That Christ may thus be praised.

Sanctified now by the Word,
Which is the truth of God,
We take the Gospel we have heard,
With which our feet are shod.

Lord Jesus, now we follow You;
That's all we need to know.
We know Your promise still is true,
To lead us where we go.

Rebound to Rebuild

"Through wisdom is an house builded.... A just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again.... Afterwards build thine house" (Proverbs 24:3,16,27). "Ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave Me alone.... These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

Troubles may come that will cause us to stumble,
But afterwards rise up and build!
Storms may be ordered to make us more humble,
Yet by our Lord's peace they are stilled!

These things were spoken to give us good cheer,
And find all our peace in the Lord.
Only our Savior could vanquish our fear,
And by Him our soul is restored.

Lord Jesus, in view of this world's tribulation,
Which You said would surely be found,
We thank You for cheering us with Your salvation
That gives us Your peace to rebound.

Perfume of Performance

"Hanani the seer came to Asa, king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.... For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him. Herein thou hast done foolishly.... And Asa slept with his fathers.... and they buried him.... and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours" (2 Chronicles 16:7-14).

The eyes of our Savior still run to and fro
Throughout the whole earth all day long
For those who will trust Him that He may yet show
That on their behalf He is strong.

Such was the case in King Asa's reign,
Who trusted the Lord in his youth,
But in later years, he decided in vain
To forfeit this critical truth!

For thirty-five years then the Lord gave this king
The blessings that trust would afford.
But Asa forgot where those blessings all spring,
And did not rely on the Lord.

And so in his death they gave him perfume,
But better, far better would be
A legacy fragrant then brought to his tomb,
Enduring for eternity.

So teach us, O Lord, to be ever aware
That Your searching eyes never cease
To look for the hearts that are casting their care
On You for Your blessing of peace.

(A note from the author, in two-thousand nine,
The twenty-eighth day of December,
Was thirty-six years that salvation was mine,
And I would do well to remember.

King Asa had prospered for thirty-five years,
As I have, I surely can tell!
My prayer is that God will yet spare me the tears
Of finding I finished not well!)

Excuses Excluded

"Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsel and knowledge, that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?" (Proverbs 22:20,21). "If I had not come and spoken unto them, that had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.... If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, that had not had sin" (John 15:22-24).

The answer of reason which we are provided
Is certain and ready for use.
The prophecies written, which God Himself guided,
Exclude every honest excuse.

It's not about winning and argument now,
But rather removing objection,
To show those who honestly seek the Lord how
Excuses provide no protection!

We thank You, Lord Jesus, for words You have spoken
And deeds among men that You did
To demonstrate Scripture can never be broken,
And evidence cannot be hid.

Vitality in the Vine

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit, for without Me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5).

In man there's no ability
To manufacture any fruit,
For only God can make a tree
Or any life that has a root.

All attempts by men must fail,
For life proceeds from God alone.
Fools may try to no avail,
Yet their failure shall be shown.

In Christ, the Vine, alone we live,
And we, the branches, now derive
Our fruit that He alone can give;
Without Him we cannot survive.

That is why our Lord portrayed
Himself to be the Vine, of course:
Any fruit in us displayed
Is there to magnify its Source!

O Lord, we praise You as the Vine,
And thank You that in us may be
Much fruit, which by Your wise design,
Displays Your own vitality!

Having His Holiness

"Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name: bring an offering, and come into His courts. O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness" (Psalm 96:8,9). "Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?" (Proverbs 20:9).

How shall we come now to worship the Lord?
What right to approach can we claim?
Only the mercy of God could afford
To cleanse us from all of our shame!

Come in the beauty of holiness now,
Cleansed from our sin's every trace!
Only our wonderful Lord could endow
His holiness granted by grace!

Worship the Lord who has made our heart clean
And clothed us in His righteousness!
God has removed our transgressions between,
As far as the east is from west!

Yet even now, Lord, You know that we need
Your cleansing that washes our feet,
So that we may walk in the light where You lead
In fellowship constant and sweet.

Thank You for holiness, Lord, You impart
That Your righteousness must require.
You are the One who cleanses our heart,
And fills us with holy desire!

Sign of the Saved

"A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:34,35).

This is how the world shall know
That we are Christian brothers:
The love we have in Christ should show
By love we have for others.

The love of Christ should show His beauty
In us which He has planned.
His love should also flow from duty,
Obeying His command.

We ought to love as Jesus did,
Whose love was not concealed.
His love in us should not be hid,
But openly revealed.

We thank You, Lord, for love's design
That brought You from above.
O may Your light in us so shine
To show the world Your love!

Prioritizing Preparation

"So king Rehoboam.... did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord" (2 Chronicles 12:13,14). "Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom" (Proverbs 18:1).

We ought to set ourselves apart,
Prioritizing preparation
To seek the Lord with all our heart,
Or else prepare for lamentation.

Within the halls of shame we see,
As Scriptures faithfully record,
The portraits there of infamy
Of those who did not seek the Lord.

In those who sought the Lord we find
A preparation first took place
To set their heart, their soul, and mind
With all their might to seek His face.

And shall we not prioritize
A heart now earnestly prepared
To seek our Lord, so good and wise,
And thus from vanity be spared?

O Lord, we seek Your face today,
As You have called us each to do.
We see the danger of delay
And hasten now to come to You!

Victorious Voice

"The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves. The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea" (Psalm 93:3,4). "And Jesus answered.... Now is My soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour? But for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify Thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again" (John 12:23-28).

The floods of the nations have lifted their voice,
But when all their clamor is done,
The Lord God Almighty has heard their vain noise,
And spoken to us by His Son.

The floods of our troubles may crash on our soul
Like waves that will roar in the sea.
The Lord God Almighty is still in control;
He speaks, and His truth makes us free.

The floods of our judgment upon Jesus came,
But trouble did not make Him pause.
He prayed to give glory to His Father's name,
Committing Himself to this cause.

The floods lift their voice, O Lord, once again
With mockery in these last days,
But Your voice is mightier than that of men,
So we'll lift our voice up in praise!

Perfect Paradox

"Jesus answered them, saying.... Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth His life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal" (John 12:23-25).

Object lessons everywhere
Are found in God's creation.
Perfect paradoxes there
Provide His illustration.

A lesson God conveys on fruit
Is centered in the seed:
Unless it dies, it won't take root,
Producing what we need.

It's not about self-preservation
Or self-exalting strife;
The paradox of our salvation
Is death that brings forth life!

How perfect is this paradox
Of life thus sacrificed!
How vividly the seed unlocks
The treasures found in Christ!

Yet listen as He now extends
That paradox to us,
Since our own fruitfulness depends
On sacrificial trust.

Lord, by this paradox so true,
Your lesson now is plain:
Unless we give our hearts to You,
Our life is lived in vain.

Start with the Stone

"Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto Him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?" (John 11:39,40).

Lazarus was in the grave,
And four days had elapsed.
Jesus could have come to save
Before his health collapsed.

Our Savior didn't make it known
What He would do that day;
He just said, Take away the stone:
That's all He had to say.

Our Savior surely didn't need
The help of human hands.
The wind and waves that He decreed
Would follow His commands.

But Jesus looked into the hearts
Of those so greatly grieved.
They needed grace that He imparts
To all who have believed.

He gives to us the simple task,
That He might do alone
Above what we may think or ask,
If we will move the stone.

So may we rapidly obey
What You say, Lord, to do,
And start by taking stones away
That block our trust in You.

Dwindling Days

"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.... And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish Thou the work of our hands upon us" (Psalm 90:12,17).

Teach us, O Lord, to number our days
That wisdom may now be applied.
Procrastination so subtly betrays
Our hearts by intentions denied.

Our dwindling days are so fleeting and few;
How quickly our time is diminished!
So teach us, O Lord, to give back to You
Our life as a portrait unfinished.

Our life is a canvass; we wait for You, Lord,
To finish Your own work of art,
And so may Your beauty in us be restored
With wisdom applied to our heart.

Lord, thereby establish the work of our hands
With value beyond our short life:
A house that is built on the Rock, and it stands,
Though storms have besieged it with strife.

How quickly our dwindling days pass away,
Just like a short watch in the night!
So grant us the wisdom to trust and obey
And walk with You, Lord, in Your light.

Happy Half

"When the queen of Sheba heard the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon with hard questions.... And she said to the king.... Behold, the one half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me: for thou excellest the fame that I heard.... Because thy God loved Israel... therefore made He thee king over them, to do judgment and justice" (2 Chronicles 9:1-8). "Justice and judgment are the habitation of Thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before Thy face. Blessed is the people who know the joyful sound.... in Thy righteousness shall they be exalted" (Psalm 89:14-16).

The queen of Sheba heard the fame
Of wisdom found in Solomon,
But since that time a Greater came
In Christ our Savior, God the Son.

Because our God loved Israel,
As well as all the human race,
He found a way to save from hell,
By sending forth His truth and grace.

That justice might be satisfied,
Along with judgment's great demands,
Our Savior came to earth and died
With nails that pierced His feet and hands.

Ah! The half has not been told,
Yet we who know the joyful sound
Explore the treasures we behold
In Jesus Christ that we have found!

The half which we shall not explore
Was searched beneath those awful waves
Of wrath that Christ our Savior bore
For sinners He forever saves!

O Lord, we stand by grace alone,
And marvel at Your love displayed
When You departed from Your throne,
And on the cross our ransom paid!

Opposing Omniscience

"The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.... The way of a fool is right in his own eyes" (Proverbs 12:5,15). "Why herein is a marvelous thing, that ye know not from whence He is , and yet He hath opened mine eyes.... The Scripture cannot be broken" (John 9:30, 10:35).

The way of the foolish opposes the Lord
(Though in their own eyes they are right),
Yet all of the evidence they have ignored,
Our God has displayed in plain sight!

What marvelous madness! For who would oppose
The absolute wisdom of God?
Alas! How the multitude seeks after those
Whose folly they loudly applaud!

Opposing omniscience, as in Noah's day,
May suit our society well,
As mockers dismiss what the Scripture will say,
And lead the likeminded to hell.

But God, by the Scripture, has nonetheless spoken!
Opposing His will is absurd,
For Scripture can never, no, never be broken;
Our God will fulfill every word!

How marvelous, Lord, is this thing in our eyes:
That fools still oppose Your omniscience!
The thoughts from Your Word, Lord, are right and so wise,
Refuting this world's resistance!

Patriot Prayer

"If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14). "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he that winneth souls is wise" (Proverbs 11:30). "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).

The patriots who would protect
And keep their land from harm today,
Are called by God as His elect
To humbly and sincerely pray.

The patriots who understand
That God alone is our Defense,
And no one else can heal our land,
Will turn to God without pretense.

The patriots who will be wise,
Win souls to reap eternal gain.
Economies will fall and rise,
But this is fruit that will remain.

The patriots who seek revival
Will make this their priority.
They know the promise of the Bible
That truth in Christ will make us free.

O Lord, we humbly come to You,
To pray for help, to seek Your face,
To turn with a repentance true,
And wait for saving, healing grace.

Trusting in Trouble

"In the day of my trouble I will call upon Thee: for Thou wilt answer me.... There is none like unto Thee, O Lord.... Teach me Thy way, O Lord; I will walk in Thy truth: unite my heart to fear Thy name" (Psalm 86:7-11).

In the day of my trouble I'll call upon You,
O Lord, for I know You are there,
And no one is like You, so faithful and true,
On whom I may cast all my care.

In the day of my trouble, Lord, teach me Your way,
Uniting my heart in Your fear.
Kept in Your love, Lord, from going astray,
I know You will dry every tear.

In the day of my trouble, when tears blur my eyes,
Lord, draw me then near to Your side.
Removing distractions amounting to lies,
Remind me again why You died.

In the day of my trouble, O Lord, I have found
A refuge when my heart is broken.
What plenteous mercies and healing abound
As tenderly, Lord, You have spoken!

Mingled with Mercy

"Show us Thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us Thy salvation.... Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other" (Psalm 85:7-10). "Come, eat of My bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled" (Proverbs 9:5).

Only God's love and His counsel so wise
Could mingle together by His saving act
Mercy and truth that are not compromised,
And peace with His righteousness fully intact.

Come and behold what the Savior has done;
Now eat of His bread and partake of His wine!
Mercy is mingled with truth in God's Son;
His peace and His righteousness call us to dine!

Mercy could never be offered alone;
Truth must be satisfied! God must be just!
That is why Jesus our Lord left His throne;
Thereby He justified sinners like us!

Peace without righteousness could not be ours;
Justice and judgment still have their demands!
That is why Jesus our Lord has the scars
Visible still as He shows us His hands!

What can we say as we sit at Your table
And ponder these symbols, O Lord, You employ?
In silence we worship, for words are not able
To rightly express our unspeakable joy!

Favored with Freedom

"The Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly" (Psalm 84:11). "Blessed is the man that heareth Me, watching daily at My gates, waiting at the posts of My doors. For whoso findeth Me findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the Lord" (Proverbs 8:34,35). "Then said Jesus... If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31,32).

The grace our Lord gives with His glory is known
In the freedom that lives in the hearts of His own.
His blessing is stored for each one who waits
To hear from the Lord and watch at His gates.

Each day there is favor that God would impart
To change our behavior and strengthen our heart.
We should not forget, nor count common place,
This favor that met our need by His grace!

For we have been saved who once were not free;
Once blind and enslaved, by grace we now see!
With joy we now sing, O Lord, of Your favor.
Let true freedom ring, proclaiming our Savior!

Above the Abyss

"And He said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins" (John 8:23,24).

Our Lord came from above for this:
To save this sinful world!
He looked with grief on the abyss
Where sinners must be hurled.

He would not, therefore, stay above
To mourn that awful loss.
Compelled by mercy, truth, and love,
He suffered on the cross.

And thus He opened heaven's door
To all who would receive
The Savior prophesied before,
Who saves all who believe!

Yet sinners even now refuse
The gift of God's salvation;
Rejecting Christ, they thereby choose
Eternal condemnation!

It seems so strange, O Lord, today,
With all Your evidence,
That sinners still refuse to pray,
Rejecting Your Defense!

We thank You, Lord, for love displayed
Upon the cross so true
And for the fear to thus persuade
Our hearts to trust in You.

Necessity of Nicodemus

"Nicodemus saith unto them (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them), Doth our law judge any man before it hear him, and know what he doeth?" (John 7:50,51).

The time for Nicodemus came
When he must speak aloud.
No longer could he bear the shame
Of blending with the crowd.

Quietly, he'd come by night
To hear our Savior's Word,
But now with boldness in the light
He spoke, and he was heard.

Nicodemus just appealed
To what the law had said:
That they should hear what Christ revealed,
And by the truth be led.

Today there is need to stand
Like Nicodemus did
Against the status quo's demand
That Christ should now be hid.

Beware, for silence gives consent
To lies that must be halted!
The dawn is near, the night far spent:
Our Lord should be exalted!

Lamenting the Loss

"Oh that My people had hearkened unto Me, and Israel had walked in My ways! I should soon have subdued their enemies... their time should have endured forever... He should have fed them also with the finest of wheat, and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee" (Psalm 81:13-16). "Hear Me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the word of My mouth.... lest thou give thine honor unto others, and thy years to the cruel... and thou mourn at the last" (Proverbs 5:7-11).

The Lord laments what might have been
If only those had hearkened
Who turned away, exchanging then
His light for paths so darkened!

Hear His anguished lamentation
In that word "Oh!" expressed.
How He longed for their salvation
Whereby they could be blessed!

The lamentation of the fool
Shall also come at last
Whose life was given to the cruel
In years that now are past.

You loved us, Lord, to the extreme!
You could not bear the loss
Of sinners whom You might redeem
Upon that cruel cross!

Oh Lord, receive our thanks today
For love that sought us first.
When we like sheep had gone astray,
To save us, You were cursed!

Death, which was our enemy,
Was conquered when You died!
You gave us life eternally;
Our souls are satisfied.

We praise You, Lord, for wondrous love
That rescued us from wrath,
And from the lamentation of
Our broad, destructive path!

Dawning or Darkness

"But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.... Ponder the path of thy feet" (Proverbs 4:18-26). "Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life" (John 6:67,68).

Ponder now the path you take:
The darkness leads the lost astray.
Will you live for Jesus' sake,
Or will you also go away?

The righteous path, just like the dawn,
Grows brighter till the perfect day.
Will this be the path you're on,
Or will you also go away?

We follow Christ into the light,
When we have heard Him and obey.
Will you choose to do what's right,
Or will you also go away?

O Lord, like Peter with one voice,
Who said that with You he would stay,
Our hearts agree! We've made our choice:
By grace we will not go away!

Hard to Hear

"Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst.... Many therefore of His disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?" (John 6:35,60).

Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life,
Will satisfy the soul,
Will calm the storm of inner strife,
And cleanse and make us whole.

In spite of all these blessings shown,
It's hard for some to hear it.
The Father clearly made Him known,
As did the Holy Spirit.

Indeed, unless we're taught of God
These truths will not make sense.
The natural mind will count them odd,
Despite the evidence.

Savior, Teacher, Lord of all,
You came to us in love,
As manna once before did fall
From heaven's store above.

Thank You, Lord, for open eyes
To see and understand:
You are the Bread that satisfies
As in a desert land!

Same as Solomon

"In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said unto God.... Give me now wisdom and knowledge... for who can judge this Thy people that is so great? And God said to Solomon.... Wisdom and knowledge are granted unto thee" (2 Chronicles 1:7-12). "Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding... then thou shalt understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord giveth wisdom" (Proverbs 2:3-6).

God appeared to Solomon,
And told him to request
Whatever that he wanted done,
And God would do the rest.

What an opportunity
To ask of God in prayer!
Yet God has said to you and me
This privilege is not rare.

If only we will likewise ask,
As Solomon then did,
For wisdom fitted to our task,
Such knowledge won't be hid.

This opportunity is ours!
For God, who made all things
(And as a footnote made the stars),
The same grace to us brings!

Ask: it shall be given you;
Seek and you shall find;
Knock: the door will open to
The wisdom of God's mind!

We need not wait another day
For wisdom now to live.
God's wisdom waits for those who pray,
Which He delights to give.

Principle of Proving

"Hath God forgotten to be gracious? Hath He in anger shut up His tender mercies? Selah. And I said, this is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. I will remember the works of the LORD; surely, I will remember Thy wonders of old" (Psalm 77:9-11). "When Jesus then lifted up His eyes, and saw a great company come unto Him, He saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this He said to prove him: for He Himself knew what He would do" (John 6:5,6).

Jesus knew what He would do;
In every circumstance.
This is a principle that's true
That's never left to chance.

Questions that our Lord would ask
To prove the heart of man,
Always would fulfill their task
According to His plan.

When God at times will prove our soul
With a perplexity,
Let us recall this principle
In our infirmity.

For God is surely on the throne,
But sometimes we forget,
And difficulties make this known
When we begin to fret.

O Lord, You know that we are frail
And that we are inclined
To worry when the storms prevail
And overwhelm our mind.

Yet in these times we would recall
You prove us as before,
To show us You are Lord of all,
And we should trust You more.