Why the Woe?

"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God" (Psalm 42:11).

Tell me again, O my downcast soul,
The reason you're pouting today.
With redemption so free, salvation so full,
Why aren't you shouting, "Hurray!"?

How can you be sad at a time like this?
Can it be that you've misunderstood?
Or have you forgotten that promise of His,
That God works all things for our good?

Return to the joy that is found in the praise
That you rightly should give to your Lord!
Hope in your God, His promise, and grace,
And thus shall your joy be restored.

Concrete Counsel

"There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless, the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand" (Proverbs 19:21).

The devices of men shall fail.
The counsel of God shall prevail.
His truth, to the smallest detail,
Shall certainly all be fulfilled.

The word of our God shall stand.
The work of His almighty hand,
The decree of His sovereign command,
Shall accomplish all the He has willed.

The Thrill of His Thoughts

"Many, Oh Lord my God, are Thy wonderful works which Thou hast done, and Thy thoughts which are to usward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto Thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.... But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me" (Psalm 40:5,17).

How great are the thoughts of Your omniscient mind!
Their quantity numberless; quality kind!
How thrilling to know, Lord, You think upon me!
Your thoughts are my comfort; Your truth makes me free.

Hopeless Hushing

"I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue.... I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred. My heart was hot within me; while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue" (Psalm 39:1-3).

How can I silence my tongue,
While there's so many people in need?
Hearken, dear friends, old and young,
Eternity draws near with speed!

The ship you are sailing aboard,
Is like the Titanic's sure doom.
The lifeboat is Jesus our Lord!
Climb aboard, for still there is room!

Build and Battle

"They which builded on the wall... everyone with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon" (Nehemiah 4:17).

To build and to battle; yes, this is the call!
To work and to war, repairing the wall!
Rise up to the task again if you fall,
For Jesus is coming again.

The work is before us, repairing the breach.
The long war continues; be steadfast and preach!
Till Jesus returns, there's still more to reach!
Even so come, Lord. Amen!

Delightful Desires

"Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart" (Psalm 37:4).

Sweet object of my soul's delight!
Lord of love, of life, of light!
Jesus Christ has filled my sight,
And this is my desire.

So what have we to do with greed,
And vain desires we don't need?
For Jesus Christ will surely feed,
Our souls as they require.

The Hope of Home

"The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death" (Proverbs 14:32).

The wicked come, yet they will go.
Like the chaff the wind will blow,
Driven on, they cannot slow,
The horrors of their grave.

The righteous have a different end.
They trust their Savior, Lord, and Friend.
Ah! This is hope we comprehend,
That will forever save!

Bold to Build

"The God of heaven, He will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build" (Nehemiah 2:20). "I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). "And after this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb... and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb" (Revelation 7:9,10).

Brothers, sisters, rise and build!
For as our Lord and Savior willed,
His promise thus shall be fulfilled,
And hell shall not prevail.

Strengthen, then, determination!
Christ Himself is our Foundation!
His church advances with salvation,
With grace that shall not fail.

Every tongue and tribe and nation,
Gathers with each generation;
Hear their voice of jubilation:
All hail, King Jesus! Hail!

The COMFORT of COUNSELORS

"To the counselors of peace is joy" (Proverbs 12:20).

The counselors of peace are couriers of joy,
To men and to women, each girl and boy,
To the rich and the poor, to the greatest and least,
The glad tidings comes, announcing God's peace.

Peace by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Peace by the Savior, the Lamb sacrificed!
Peace, but not as the world vainly gives;
Peace in assurance that Jesus Christ lives.

Peace, for all who receive Him as Savior!
Peace freely given, unmerited favor!
Peace everlasting that never shall end,
Peace in our Lord, our Savior, and Friend.

Worthy of Worship

"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing" (Revelation 5:12).

Worthy! Worthy is the Lamb,
Of all I have and all I am!
Indeed He's worthy of much more,
Since I'm so weak and very poor!

For Jesus Christ my Lord was slain,
He gave His life, He took my pain,
To pay my looming debt for sin.
Now what should I withhold from Him?

Encouraging Eye

"I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye" (Psalm 32:8).

With the eye of God upon me,
And the promise He will guide,
I'd trust Him more completely;
And in His love abide.

Eye of wisdom, Heart of love,
Watching over me each day,
Until I reach Your throne above,
Lead me in Your perfect way.

My Hopes in His Hands

"Into Thine hand I commit my spirit: Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.... My times are in Thy hand" (Psalm 31:5,15).

Into Your hand I commit my life;
My times, Lord, are in Your hands.
There's no safer place, in peace or in strife;
There's no better place for my plans.

Space for Grace

"And now for a little space, grace hath been showed from the Lord our God... that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving" (Ezra 9:8). "And I gave her space to repent... and she repented not" (Revelation 2:21).

The space of time that our God will give:
Is it not to repent of the way that we live?
Is it not that our God may lighten our eyes,
That we may return to Him and be wise?

Oh God, forgive us for wasting this space,
For taking for granted your patience and grace!
Revive us again, Lord, show us the way,
And give us a heart that will no longer stray.

Lackluster Love

"I know thy works.... Nevertheless have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works" (Revelations 2:4,5).

If our labor for God is mechanical duty;
Our heart is no longer caught up with His beauty;
If effort is loveless; its savor is bland,
It's time that our fire of first love be fanned!

Sorrowful Silence

"Unto Thee will I cry, O Lord my Rock; be not silent to me, lest, if Thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit" (Psalm 28:1).

Oh Lord, be not silent to me,
Lest, if you would, I'll admit;
In no time at all I would be
Like those who go down to the pit.

Kept in His Kindness

"Keep yourselves in the love of God.... Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen" (Jude 21,24,25). "Kept by the power of God" (1 Peter 1:5).

Continue in God's love so kind.
Yet while keeping this in mind,
Remember He is keeping you.
By His power and love so true,
Able to present His own,
Faultless, joyful, at His throne.

Prepped to Preach

"Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments" (Ezra 7:10).

Seeking, doing, teaching:
That's the proper way!
Before I start my preaching,
I must first obey.

May the truth be seen in me
That's consistent with God's Word.
May the things I do agree
With my teaching that is heard.

Secret of Safety

"The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him; and He will show them His covenant. Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord; for He shall pluck my feet out of the net.... Oh keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in Thee" (Psalm 25:14,15). "His secret is with the righteous... He giveth grace to the lowly" (Proverbs 3:32,34).

What's the secret of the Lord
That keeps us safe along the way?
It is to keep our eyes toward
Our Savior day by day.

His grace He always will impart
To those fear His name;
The meek and trusting, lowly heart
Will not be put to shame.

Knowing and Kneeling

"Who is this King of Glory?" (Psalm 24:8,10). "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life" (1 John 5:20). "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10,11).

Who is this King of Glory?
His name is Jesus Christ!
The Gospel tells the story,
How He was sacrificed.

Yes, sacrificed for you and me—
That's why He came to earth.
And now we gladly bow the knee,
And we confess His worth.

King of Glory! We confess,
And bow before Your name!
We thank you that You came to bless,
And take away our shame!

Farewell to Fear

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me" (Psalm 23:4). "But whoso hearkeneth unto Me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from the fear of evil" (Proverbs 1:33). "Perfect love casteth out fear" (1 John 4:18).

Farewell to all my former fears!
Though you have been with me for years,
You all must leave; now flee away,
For Christ my Lord has come to stay.

He walks with me through all of life,
In times of peace, in times of strife.
Now even death can't make me fear,
For in its shadow, Lord You're near.

So make Yourself at home, Lord, here;
As from my heart You cast out fear.
Whatever else You want to heave,
I'll bid farewell, good riddance, leave!