Believer's Boast

“In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name forever” (Psalm 44:8).  “It were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void” (1 Corinthians 9:15). 

In God we’re boasting all day long;

We’ll praise His name forever,

But every other boast is wrong

That praises our endeavor.

In God we boast with all His own

That He’s so good to us.

We praise His name, and His alone;

His love is marvelous!

In God we boast; to Him we cry:

What mercies we’ve enjoyed!

It would be better now to die

Than make this boasting void.

We boast all day, Lord, in Your love,

And yet we’ve just begun.

Forever, Lord, we’ll  boast above,

Declaring what You’ve done.

Mandated Memory

“The memory of the just is blessed… The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich” (Proverbs 10:7,22). 

The memory of the just is blest,

For thus the Lord commands it so.

Within its shade the weary rest;

It marks a faithful path to go.

The memory of the just will stand

For time and all eternity,

Since God Himself will thus command

Its honored place in history.

And we remember, Lord, Your love

Which prompted You to leave Your throne

To die for us, to rise above,

And intercede for all Your own.

Lord, let this memory that You gave

(And told us to remember well)

Remind us what You did to save

And to redeem our souls from hell.

We hear You say:  Remember Me,

And we delight to do the same,

As we remember Calvary

Where You, Lord Jesus, bore our shame.

We think upon Your love, O Lord,

And You have blessed us as we do,

For by this memory we’ve explored

The boundless riches found in You.

Locating the Lord

“They continually say unto me, Where is thy God?... They say daily unto me, Where is thy God?  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 42:3,10,11).  “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10). 

Now where is your God?  How often I’ve heard

This question that rises again and again!

But God has been faithful in deed and in word

In spite of the daily denial of men.

Now where is your God?  He’s not hard to find,

If only we honestly open our eyes.

But still there are those who are willfully blind,

Who, in their rebellion, refuse to be wise.

Now where is your God?  It wearies our soul

That so many ask it, and yet will not hear

Historical evidence, Scripture so full,

And all of creation abundantly clear!

Now where is your God?  We’re called to the task

Of showing the truth that the Lord has revealed. 

Be ready to answer all those who will ask

The reason we know that our souls have been healed.

The fear of the Lord is wisdom’s beginning,

So that is the place where our witness should start.

How great is the need of the souls we are winning

To show them this truth that enlightens the heart.

We thank You, O Lord, for the answers You give

To those who are asking about Your location.

So teach us to speak and convincingly live

That others may seek You and find Your salvation.

Bought with the Best

“Ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's” (1 Corinthians 6:20). 

Bought with a price only God could afford,

Sought by the Christ with redemption so full,

Great is our cause now to live for our Lord,

With all of our body, our spirit, and soul.

Bought with the Best, so unspeakably priced,

Our souls have been purchased by Jesus our Savior.

The suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ

Has measured the price of His infinite favor.

O Lord, as we search for the right words to say,

We find ourselves speechless at what You have done,

For we who were sinners with nothing to pay

Were rescued and ransomed by Your precious Son!

Our words may escape us, O Lord, as we’ve tried

To ponder why You gave Your Best for our worst,

Yet by our surrender, Lord, be glorified

As we live to love You because You loved first.

Passover Passion

“Sacrifice and offering Thou didst not desire; Mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast Thou not required.  Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of Me, I delight to do Thy will, O my God: yea, Thy law is within My heart” (Psalm 40:6-8).  “For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:7). 

The sacrifice and offerings

Are not what God desired,

Though these would illustrate the things  

His holiness required.

The offerings that were daily burned

And offerings made for sin

Portrayed our Savior, we have learned,

Till He had entered in.

For Christ, our great Passover Lamb,

Would shed His blood for us,

Though He was still the great I AM,

And no less glorious!

O Lord, how clearly in this Psalm

You spoke of what You’d do.

Your passion gives us joy and calm

Because we trust in You.

Broken Bridle

“I said… I will keep my mouth with a bridle… 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, LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am… And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee” (Psalm 39:1-7).  “My son, keep thy Father’s commandment… When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee” (Proverbs 6:20-22). 

A fire is burning that cannot be quenched:

God’s Word is the fire; my heart is aflame.

A bridle is broken that cannot be fenced:

The Word of the Lord has refused to be tame.

I cannot be silent with so much at stake.

I’m moved as the sorrow within me is stirred.

Erupting volcanoes must certainly break,

And so will the heart that would bridle God’s Word.

I muse, for the fire within me is hot.

I speak as the bridle by God has been broken.

I preach as His Spirit illumines my thought.

I pray that the Gospel make clearly be spoken.

Unbridled, except by the Spirit of God,

I’m led as I know He will make no mistake.

He guides with His staff and He guards with His rod;

He talks to me daily the moment I wake.

The bridle is broken; now what wait I for?

My hope is in God who alone sets me free.

His Word is my comfort; now what need I more?

His Spirit is present to give liberty.

The bridle is broken, Lord, by Your command,

As You give me freedom, unfettered within.

Constrained by Your love and upheld by Your hand,

I’m set free to serve You, unhindered by sin.

Proving His Presence

“Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites... And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valor… And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us?... And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?” (Judges 6:11-14).  “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16). 

The angel came to Gideon

When Israel was distressed.

The multitudes of Midian

Relentlessly oppressed.

Israel wasn't then forsaken,

But they were disciplined.

Their land was only overtaken

Because God’s people sinned.

The angel of the Lord appeared

And spoke to Gideon’s heart

To show him that the hosts he feared

By God’s hand would depart.

“The Lord is with thee, mighty man!”

But Gideon could not see

His proven presence or a plan

To set His people free.

The Lord then looked on him and said

To “go in this thy might.”

And thus by God was Gideon led

Against the Midianite.

The church of God appears so small

Against apparent odds,

And yet His Spirit dwells in all

Its temple, which is God’s.

Lord, let Your presence now be proved;

For then we cannot fail.

Against the gates of hell we’ve moved;

By grace we shall prevail.

Determined Delight

“Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart” (Psalm 37:4).  “Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established” (Proverbs 4:26).  “I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). 

We each are held responsible

To make a right determination:

In whom will we delight our soul,

And who receives our adoration?

We ought to ponder this with care,

And thus establish all our ways.

Divided hearts should now beware:

We’ll live for Christ or waste our days.

As Paul determined to refrain

To speak of things apart from Christ,

Our focus likewise should be plain

And not by lesser things enticed. 

How many days amount to loss

Because of vain distraction known?

Lord, fix our eyes upon Your cross

And our delight in You alone.

Where is the Wise?

“The wicked… flattereth himself in his own eyes… The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good” (Psalm 36:1-3).  “It is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.  Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” (1 Corinthians 1:19,20).

The wicked has flattered himself in his eyes.

He speaks with iniquity words that defraud.

He will not do good, and he will not be wise.

He scorns what is true, and he doesn’t fear God.

This world is reaping the seed it has sown:

It brings forth the mockers who scorn what is right.

We’re living in days that our Lord has foreshown,

When men love the darkness and turn from the light.

Now where is the wise who can show what is true?

Let each bring their cause, and declare it with reason.

They soon will inherit the wind they pursue,

When God brings to nothing their words in due season.

O Lord, how the mockers have been multiplied,

Though we have the truth which cannot be refuted!

The prewritten history which You prophesied,

Cannot be erased or be wisely disputed.

O where are the wise, Lord?  Shall not we be counted

As scribes who will study Your Word that You gave?

May WE be Your wise ones, with evidence mounted

To show forth Your Gospel with power to save!

Saying Salvation

“Say unto my soul, I am thy Salvation… And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in His salvation” (Psalm 35:3,9).

Say unto my soul, Lord, “I am thy Salvation.”

There’s no one like You who has cared for my soul.

How great is the comfort of Your consolation

As Your name unfolds Your provision so full!

Among Your great names, Lord, which show Your perfection,

You say You’re the Bread, You’re the Light, You’re the Door,

Our Shepherd so good, You’re the great Resurrection,

The Way, and the Vine:  there’s so much to explore!  

O Lord, what a comfort it is to our hearts

As You have assured us by Your faithful name

That You are the Savior alone who imparts

Salvation that washes away sin and shame.

“I am thy Salvation.”  How much that expresses!

Lord, say it again; It’s so pleasant to hear!

It serves as a Fountain that endlessly blesses,

That fills us with joy, and abolishes fear!

Mindful to Magnify

“O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together” (Psalm 34:3).  “Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:  that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 15:5,6). 

O magnify the Lord with me,

As we together praise His name!

On this we surely can agree

As we exalt our Lord the same.

We won’t agree on everything,

Like favorite songs or food selection,

But we can magnify our King

And praise the Lord for His perfection.

We know that there is one salvation,

Though freely given, greatly priced!

We celebrate this consolation

We have obtained in Jesus Christ.

Lord, thank You for the joy You give

As we are mindful in our choice

To magnify You as we live

And glorify You with one voice.

Creator and Counselor

“By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth… Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.  For He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.  The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to naught: He maketh the devices of the people of none effect.  The counsel of the LORD standeth forever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations” (Psalm 33:6-11). 

The heavens were made by the Word of the Lord,

And all of the universe thus had its birth.

Let God by His creatures be greatly adored

In all of the heavens and all of the earth!

Let all of the earth fear the Lord and give praise:

Our God is the Author of “natural law.”

He spoke and created all things in six days:

Let all those in heaven and earth stand in awe!

Let all of the earth hear the counsel of God;

The Lord brings to nothing the counsel of nations.

His counsel shall stand; let creation applaud!

The thoughts of His heart are to all generations.

O Lord, our Creator and Counselor too,

How rightly we tremble in awe of Your power,

And yet by Your counsel we draw near to You

To find grace and truth to sustain us each hour.

Day of Decision

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve… but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15).  “Now it is high time to awake out of sleep… The night is far spent, the day is at hand:  let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light” (Romans 3:11,12). 

There’s only two choices the day will afford:

Now whom will we serve?  We must choose.

We’ll serve our own interests or follow the Lord.

The time undecided we lose.

And if it seem evil to serve God alone

Because we are still undecided,

The Lord has discerned it, and it shall be shown

That we have a heart that’s divided.

The night is far spent; the day is at hand.

Let’s put on the armor of light!

Recalling the boldness of Joshua’s stand,

We know that he surely was right.

How bold is the chapter of Joshua’s conclusion;

How clear his conviction was then!

There wasn’t a hint of the slightest confusion

In what he declared before men.

O Lord, we give thanks for the clearest of vision,

As we and our house may discern,

That now it is high time to make our decision

To serve You until You return.

Sensible Sacrifice

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1,2).

There’s only one path we can take that makes sense

In view of redemption’s great price:

The sinner once hopelessly lost who repents

Surrenders in self sacrifice.

What else should we do with a life that was lost

But now is redeemed by the Savior?

We cannot repay Him that infinite cost,

Nor can we return Him the favor.

But we can obey Him with worship and love,

And find that surrender is sweet,

And whatever crowns are rewarded above,

We gladly can cast at His feet.

And what will we miss if we do not conform

To standards this age will applaud,

Where mocking our Lord is considered the norm,

And nations have turned against God?

O Lord, by Your grace and Your power You call

Your children to break from the hold

Of things in this earth that will cause us to fall,

Conforming our souls to its mold.

And so as a sensible sacrifice, Lord,

Surrendered with true consecration,

We’d live by the power Your grace will afford,

Transforming us by Your salvation.

Glorious Gladness

“I will extol Thee, O LORD, for Thou hast lifted me up… Thou hast healed me… Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: Thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; to the end that my glory may sing praise to Thee, and not be silent.  O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee forever” (Psalm 30:1,2,11,12).  “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!... For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen” (Romans 11:35,36). 

The glorious gladness that God has revealed

In Christ through His Gospel is shown,

For by Him we’re lifted from sin and are healed:

To Him be the glory alone!

This glorious gladness that lifts up our soul  

And heals us all of our days

Is found as we worship with joy and extol

Our Lord with thanksgiving and praise.

The glorious gladness in Jesus our Lord

Exceeds every temporal measure.

The depths of God’s wisdom and knowledge are stored

In Christ with unsearchable treasure!

A ransom was paid for this glorious gladness

That girds us with infinite favor.

Gone is the sackcloth of sin and of sadness,

Which Christ wore Himself as our Savior.

Lord, You are the Center of our celebration

Where glorious gladness is found,

For of You and through You we have our salvation,

And to You our praises abound.

Majesty and Mercy

“The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters.  The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty… The LORD sitteth upon the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King forever” (Psalm 29:3,4,10).  “My son, be wise, and make My heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth Me” (Proverbs 27:11).  “But to Israel He saith, All day long I have stretched forth My hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people” (Romans 10:21). 

O come and hear the voice of God:

He thunders with His majesty.

His scepter and His judgment rod

Upon the global flood we see.

His majesty is glorious,

He sits as King upon the waters,

And yet He speaks at last to us

As tender sons and cherished daughters.

“My son, be wise,” we hear Him say:

Is this that same majestic voice

That thundered loud in Noah’s day

To those rejecting Him by choice?

And does our wisdom make Him glad

When we’re obeying His commands?

Is this the mercy Noah had

When God, with grace, stretched out His hands?

The Lord is High, yet merciful

To those who humbly seek His face.

He tasted death for every soul,

And thus extends to all His grace.

Yet even now with hands stretched out,

He speaks to those who disobey.

He calls to those who choose to doubt

And with gainsaying, turn away.

O Lord, Your majesty above

In judgment has been clearly shown,

Yet mercy manifests Your love

And gives salvation to Your own.