Hope for Healing

"Praise ye the LORD… He healeth the broken in heart… His understanding is infinite" (Psalm 147:1,3,5).  "Rejoice greatly… behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation… Turn you to the stronghold, ye prisoners of hope… For how great is His goodness, and how great is His beauty!" (Zechariah 9:9,12,17).  "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life... He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:16,30). 

How graciously is God commanding

The blessings that He will impart. 

How infinite the understanding

Of Him who heals the broken in heart! 

Behold our King who comes to us,

Who saved us from the lowest hell! 
Is not His goodness marvelous? 

Is not His beauty great as well? 

For God so loved us that He gave

His precious Son for our salvation.  

Upon the cross, He died to save

Our sinful souls from condemnation. 

O Lord, our only Hope for healing,

Decrease us, that You may increase

Your beauty that You are revealing

In righteousness and perfect peace!  

Praise is Pondered

"While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being" (Psalm 146:2).  "The ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and He pondereth all his goings" (Proverbs 5:21).  "Many… shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD" (Zechariah 8:21).  "When He was in Jerusalem… many believed in His name, when they saw the miracles which He did.  But Jesus did not commit Himself unto them, because He knew all men… He knew what was in man" (John 2:23-25). 

As long as we have any being,

We ought to offer heartfelt praise,

Reminded that the Lord is seeing

Our attitude and all our ways. 

The Lord foresees the days ahead

When mighty nations then shall come

To bow before Him, as He said,

With praise in the millennium. 

Yet even now each heart is sifted,

As in the days Christ walked with men,

To turn the hearts that may be lifted

To seek Him and be born again. 

All we like sheep, O Lord, had wandered,

Whom You have gathered with salvation. 

Now may our hearts, which You have pondered,

Bring praise with grateful adoration!  

Greatness of His Grace

"Great is the LORD… and His greatness is unsearchable… The LORD is gracious… The LORD is righteous… The LORD is nigh unto all… that call upon Him in truth… and will save them" (Psalm 145:3,8,17-19).  "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born… of God.  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us… full of grace and truth… For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ" (John 1:12-14,17). 

God's wonders are unsearchable

Throughout the earth and outer space,  

Yet His salvation of the soul

Displays the greatness of His grace! 

Our Savior's grace won't compromise

His law requiring condemnation,

Yet by His death He justifies

Each one who trusts Him for salvation. 

The grace of God was surely seen

When He for us was sacrificed. 

His grace and truth now intervene

For every soul receiving Christ. 

The greatness of Your grace, O Lord,

With truth has satisfied Your law! 

The more Your grace is yet explored,

The more we stand in grateful awe. 

Risen Priest and Ruling Prince

"That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth… let not mercy and truth forsake thee… write them upon the table of thine heart" (Psalm 144:12; Proverbs 3:3).  "Behold the Man whose name is The BRANCH… He shall bear the glory… and He shall be a Priest upon His throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both" (Zechariah 6:12,13).  "Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory? And… He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself" (Luke 24:26,27). 

Let neither mercy nor the truth

Foretold of Jesus be forsaken

As we are training up our youth

So that their faith may not be shaken. 

Behold the Man who was foretold  

As Priest and Prince upon His throne: 

He is the BRANCH that we behold

Who makes His peace and justice known. 

The Lord who bore our sin and shame

Now bears the glory evermore. 

For us our Lord and Savior came

To take away the sins He bore. 

O Lord, You are our risen Priest

And glorious ruling Prince as well. 

May Your dominion be increased

In grateful hearts You saved from hell.  

Prevailing Prayer

"Hear my prayer, O LORD… And enter not into judgment with Thy servant: for in Thy sight shall no man living be justified… Cause me to hear Thy lovingkindness" (Psalm 143:1,2,8 ).  "If  thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding… then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God" (Proverbs 2:3,5).  "Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise" (Luke 23:42,43). 

We have an audience above

With God who causes us to hear

An answer from His heart of love

As to His throne He draws us near. 

Since all are guilty by the law,

Our only hope is in God's grace. 

The lovingkindness David saw

Was in the Lord, our Hiding Place.   

The prayer that earnestly prevails

Finds understanding at God's throne.

His lovingkindness never fails

That He extends to all His own. 

Lord, thank You for prevailing prayer,

Like from that thief whose urgent cries

Transported him from his despair

To be with You in Paradise!  

Remembrance of my Refuge

"When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then Thou knewest my path… refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.  I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my Refuge" (Psalm 142:3-5).  "Whoso hearkeneth unto Me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil" (Proverbs 1:33).  "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the LORD of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6).  "This is My body which is given for you:  this do in remembrance of Me… This cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you" (Luke 22:19,20). 

When I was overwhelmed within,

The Lord then surely knew my path. 

Christ died to take away my sin;

He lives to shelter me from wrath. 

All hope of safety failed then,

Though I had sought it very well. 

I found no refuge among men,

And there was no escape from hell.

In darkness, Jesus shed His light;

His Spirit prompted me to pray. 

I saw my refuge!  What a sight

That I beheld in Christ that day!

I see, Lord, in the bread and wine

Remembrance of my Refuge shown. 

You gave Your life to rescue mine;

My refuge is in You alone.