Resolution to Remember

New Year's Eve

"They remembered not His hand, nor the day when He delivered them" (Psalm 78:42).

The year is coming to a close,
And our thoughts will likely move
To resolutions we suppose
Will help us to improve.

Thus as we ponder what should be
In contrast to what is,
The words of Christ "Remember Me,"
Should draw our hearts to His.

So let this resolution stand:
By grace may it be thus,
That we will not forget the hand
Of Him Who died for us.

Delight to Deliver

"The Lord knoweth how to deliver" (2 Peter 2:9).

Ponder this kernel of truth:
Our Lord God knows how to deliver.
Whether in old age or youth,
This comfort gives peace like a river.

Not only does our Lord know how
To deliver the trusting soul,
He delights to and will do so now,
Whenever we give Him control.

Precious Promises

"His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" (2 Peter 1:3,4).

God's promises so precious
And so exceeding great
Are freely given to us;
We need no longer wait.

These promises are yours and mine
That we might each partake
Of God's own character divine
And ours like His remake.

Height of the Humble

"Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck. For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He putteth down one, and setteth up another" (Psalm 75:5-7). "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time" (1 Peter 5:6).

Get rid of the foolish and arrogant notion
That the future belongs to the proud.
For God is the Judge and grants the promotion
In His time to the one He's allowed.

Under the shadow of God's mighty hand
The humble are gladly at rest;
Content with purpose that Jesus has planned,
Assured that his timing is best.

Would be Wise

"Arise, O God, plead Thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth Thee daily.... The tumult of those that rise up against Thee increaseth continually" (Psalm 74:22,23). My son, be wise, and make My heart glad, that I may answer him the reproacheth Me" (Proverbs 27:11).

"My son, be wise, and cheer My heart,"
I hear my Father say.
What tender words can thus impart
A longing to obey!

And since it's so that I can make
My Father's heart be glad,
Then let me finally forsake
The sin that makes Him sad!

You hear the tumult of this world,
O God, against You rise,
So while reproaches thus are hurled,
O Lord, I would be wise.

So grant me wisdom, Lord, today
And victory in the strife,
That You may have somewhat to say
By the answer of my life.

Best of Both

"Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee" (Psalm 73:24,25).

Lord, whom have I in heaven above
That cares for me like You?
And who on earth guides with Your love
And perfect counsel too?

Lord, You are the very best
That both worlds have in worth!
You are my Refuge and my Rest
In heaven and on earth.

Day of Dominion

Christmas Day

"He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth" (Psalm 72:8).

The day is coming when there shall be
Christ's dominion from sea to sea.
But not so at our Savior's nativity;
And what about His place now in me?

Yes, He shall reign to the ends of the earth,
So very unlike it was at His birth.
Lord, reign in my heart; now have Your dominion,
Regardless of this world's changing opinion!

Telling the Times

Christmas Eve

"Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks (i.e. "sevens" of years, 49 years), and threescore and two weeks (i.e., 434 years)... And after three score and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for Himself" (Daniel 9:25,26). "Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow" (1 Peter 1:10,11).

Prophets searched and have inquired
To know what time God signified
When God's prophetic Word inspired,
Regarding Jesus, testified.

What a privilege is ours
To see what prophets longed to see!
Though we have no prophetic powers,
History shows us Calvary.

And history also shows the glory
Of our Savior's empty grave.
The fullness of God's great love story
Is on display in time to save.

Kept by our King

"His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope...who are kept by the power of God" (1 Peter 1:3,5).

With abundance of mercy He gave us new birth
And a hope that is living to which we now cling.
Until we have finished our journey on earth,
We are kept by the power of Jesus our King.

Patience of the Prophets

"Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.... Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience" (James 5:8,10).

Be patient, my brethren, establish your hearts;
The coming of Jesus our Savior draws near.
God always completes whatever He starts.
Let not your heart be troubled with fear.

Consider, my brethren, the prophets of old
Who faithfully spoke in the name of the Lord.
Take their example: be patient and bold.
God can be trusted, and He will reward.

Compassionate Command

"Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which Thou hast wrought for us.... Ascribe ye strength unto God.... that giveth strength and power unto His people. Blessed be God" (Psalm 68:28,34,35). "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13).

Lift up your weary head and hands
And hear what God, our God, commands:
He gives us strength by His decree,
Then gently tells us, "Follow Me."

Blessed be our God of love
Who sends His power from above!
Hearts grow weary, eyes grow dim,
But God commands our strength through Him.

Shine to Share to Show

"God be merciful unto us, and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us... that Thy way may be known upon earth, Thy saving health among all nations" (Psalm 67:1,2).

God have mercy, shine Your face,
Bless and send us with Your grace
To share Your Gospel truth and wealth;
To show Your way and saving health.

See and Say

"Come and see the works of God.... Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what He hath done for my soul" (Psalm 66:5,16).

Come and see the works of God
Displayed in all the earth!
Let all creation now applaud
Our Lord and Savior's worth.

Come and hear, and I will tell
How Jesus saved my soul!
He has rescued me from hell;
He paid my debt in full.

Deliver Me from a Double Mind

"A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways" (James 1:8). "Teach me Thy way, O Lord; I will walk in Thy truth: unite my heart to fear Thy name. I will praise Thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart" (Psalm 86:11,12).

Lord, You have the only cure
For double-minded hearts:
The Word of God is quick and pure,
And healing grace imparts.

So let Your Word deliver me
From double-minded shame.
Unite my heart and set it free
To praise and fear Your name.

Contented Conversation

"Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5).

What kind of blind insanity
Would rob me of content?
For Jesus gave Himself for me:
What more could He have spent?

Yet there is more! For He has said
That He will never leave!
What would I rather have instead?
What more could I receive?

Battle of the Better

"Thy lovingkindness is better than life" (Psalm 63:3). "Better is... righteousness... wisdom... an humble spirit... and he that ruleth his spirit" (Proverbs 16:8,16,19,32). "But ye are come... to Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel" (Hebrews 12:22,24).

Be done with worldly, lesser things:
Behold in Christ the best!
Behold His lovingkindness brings
His satisfying rest!

Better is His righteousness,
And the wisdom of His Spirit,
That God imparts to save and bless,
To those with ears to hear it.

The blood of Abel testifies
Against his guilty brother,
But Jesus' blood that justifies
Speaks better than the other!

Compared to Jesus, none is greater;
From this world we turn away.
For Jesus Christ our Mediator,
Has better things to say.

Finisher of Faith

"Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:1,2). "My soul followeth hard after Thee: Thy right hand upholdeth me" (Psalm 63:8).

Looking unto Jesus, our Savior and our Goal,
We find the strength we need to run the race.
So let us run with patience as the Lord upholds our soul,
To finish, as we started, by His grace.

My Haven and My Heritage

"For Thou hast been a Shelter for me.... Thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear Thy name" (Psalm 61:3,5). "In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge" (Proverbs 14:26).

Lord, You have been my Haven and a Shelter from my shame.
You gave to me the heritage of those who fear Your name.
What confidence is mine, O Lord, with those who rest in grace!
What Refuge I have found with all Your children in this place!

Faith in Facts

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1).

Faith in God is based on facts;
It's hope's substantiation.
It weighs the evidence of acts
That meet our expectation.

Thus we have faith's definition,
Its substance, and its proof.
Honest seekers gain admission,
While scorners stand aloof.

A Little While and the Lord Will

"For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry" (Hebrews 10:37).

A little while and He shall come,
He shall not tarry on that day.
In spite of mockery by some,
Our Lord will come, and not delay.

Sanctifying Sacrifice

"We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (Hebrews 10:10).

Once and only once was our Savior crucified;
He did not need to suffer for us twice.
Thus by the offering of Himself we are sanctified;
We need no other plea or sacrifice!

Fixed Faith

"I lie even among them that are set on fire.... My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed" (Psalm 57:4,7). "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace... But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up" (Daniel 3:17,18).

Lord, fix this fickle heart of mine
Upon my God and Savior,
And thereby let Your light so shine
In all of my behavior.

For faith is tested by the fire,
To know what sort it is.
Let Christ be found my chief desire,
To show that I am His.

Wandering and Weeping

"Thou tellest my wanderings: put Thou my tears into Thy bottle: are they not in Thy book? When I cry unto Thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me" (Psalm 57:8,9).

What is the cause of my wand'ring and weeping?
The answer is found in God's wonderful Book!
It's not because God is indifferent or sleeping,
But rather because of my wandering look.

But God is still for me, I surely do know,
In each of my trials and all of my tears,
With goodness and mercy wherever I go;
I know every time that I cry that He hears.

Secrets of Seasons

"Blessed be the name of God forever and ever: for wisdom and might are His: and He change the times and the seasons.... But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known... what shall be in the latter days" (Daniel 2:20,21,28).

The secrets of the seasons from human eyes concealed
Cannot by human reason be discovered nor revealed.
But there is a God above who makes His secrets known,
And manifests His love through Christ toward His own.

Answer and Anchor

"[We] have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope that is set before us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; whither the Forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus" (Hebrews 6:18-20).

Jesus is the answer for those who long for hope,
For those who look for reasons and in the darkness grope.
Jesus is the anchor for the souls of all His own,
A refuge in the storm, sure and steadfast as His throne.

Daniel's Determination

"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank" (Daniel 1:8). "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 12:2).

Though others thought his choice unwise,
Daniel would not compromise.
And now we see his purposed heart
In retrospect was really smart!

Lord, give our hearts determination,
Just to know that You have smiled;
And not for this world's expectation,
Not conformed, and not defiled!

Goodness of God

"The goodness of God endureth continually" (Psalm 52:1). "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).

The goodness of God cannot be diminished;
In the time of our need He has plenty of grace.
Until we are home and our course has been finished,
Let's draw from His mercy and strength for our race.

Inward Interest

"Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part Thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me... wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.... Create in me a clean heart" (Psalm 52:6-10).

God is concerned with our innermost part,
Not with pretentious, religious behavior.
Search me, O God, exposing my heart,
Cleansing my sin by the blood of my Savior.

Calling Continually

"The mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof" (Psalm 50:1). "How shall we escape, if we neglect to great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him, God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to His own will?" (Hebrews 2:3,4).

The Mighty God, the Prince of Peace,
Has called the earth and does not cease
To send His servants forth to tell:
There is but one escape from hell.

What more, oh sinner, could God say?
His words and works are on display!
What more could our Lord Jesus do?
For even now He's calling you.

Reception by Redemption

"They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches, none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him.... But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for He shall receive me. Selah" (Psalm 49:6,7,15). "The Son of Man came... to give His life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45).

So let the worldly boast of wealth,
Temporal pleasure, fleeting health.
But all these things must pass away,
And these cannot our ransom pay.

But God Himself redeemed my soul;
My price was weighed and paid in full.
For Jesus gave Himself for me,
And I am His eternally!

God and Guide

"We have thought of Thy lovingkindness, O God.... According to Thy name, O God, so is Thy praise.... This God is our God forever and ever: He will be our Guide even unto death" (Psalm 48:9,10,14).

O God, our God eternally,
Our Guide as well through all our days,
Your lovingkindness sets us free,
And fills our hearts with grateful praise.