These posts focus our hearts and minds on the One who is worthy

Chorus:
For you I am praying,
For you I am praying,
For you I am praying,
I’m praying for you.

I have a Savior, He’s pleading in glory,
A dear, loving Savior, tho’ earth-friends be few;
And now He is watching in tenderness o’er me,
But oh, that my Savior were your Savior, too!

I have a Father; to me He has given
A hope for eternity, blessed and true;
And soon He will call me to meet Him in heaven,
But oh, that He’d let me bring you with me, too! (Chorus)

I have a robe; ’tis resplendent in whiteness,
Awaiting in glory my wondering view;
Oh, when I receive it all shining in brightness,
Dear friend, could I see you receiving one, too! (Chorus)

When Jesus has found you, tell others the story,
That my loving Savior is your Savior, too;
Then pray that your Savior will bring them to glory,
And prayer will be answered–’twas answered for you! (Chorus)

Samuel O’Malley Clough, 1860
Read 2 Corinthians 1:8-11

This hymn captures the heartfelt emotions of someone who has found hope in Jesus Christ and deeply longs for a dear friend to experience the same love, grace, and eternal blessings they have discovered. It’s a touching reminder of the power of prayer and our duty to see those we care about experience the same joy and eternal hope, beginning with praying for them.

Dying with Jesus, by death reckoned mine;
Living with Jesus, a new life divine;
Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine:
Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.

Never a trial that He is not there,
Never a burden that He doth not bear,
Never a sorrow that He doth not share;
Moment by moment I’m under His care.[Chorus]

Never a weakness that He doth not feel,
Never a sickness that He cannot heal;
Moment by moment, in woe or in weal,
Jesus my Savior abides with me still.[Chorus]

Chorus:
Moment by moment I’m kept in His love;
Moment by moment I’ve life from above.
Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine;
Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.

Daniel Whittle, 1893
Read: Colossians 3:1-4

From the mundane to the extraordinary, every moment holds the potential for growth, transformation, and connection. Some have said football is a game of inches, where an inch gained or given can translate into first downs or touchdowns lost or gained. In a similar way, we can think of our Christian life as a series of moments. With each step we take, we are reminded that even the smallest choices can have far-reaching impacts, shaping not only our own lives but also the lives of those around us.

In the midst of uncertain moments, the hymnwriter reminds us of our security in Christ. Because of that security, we can embrace each moment with intentionality and purpose. We are safe in Christ, secure in His unwavering love, and empowered by His Spirit within us.

P.S. Other Daniel Whittle hymns include The Crowning Day, He Is Not Here, Showers of Blessings, and I Know Whom I Have Believed.

Our Lord is now rejected,
And by the world disowned,
By the many still neglected,
And by the few enthroned,
But soon He’ll come in glory,
The hour is drawing nigh,
For the crowning day is coming by and by.

The heav’ns shall glow with splendor,
But brighter far than they
The saints shall shine in glory,
As Christ shall them array,
The beauty of the Savior,
Shall dazzle ev’ry eye,
For the crowning day is coming by and by. [Refrain]

Our pain shall then be over,
We’ll sit and sigh no more,
Behind us all of sorrow,
And naught but joy before,
A joy in our Redeemer,
As we to Him are nigh,
For the crowning day that’s coming by and by. [Refrain]

Let all that look for, hasten
The coming joyful day,
By earnest consecration,
To walk the narrow way,
By gath’ring in the lost ones,
For whom our Lord did die,
For the crowning day that’s coming by and by. [Refrain]

Refrain
Oh, the crowning day is coming,
Is coming by and by,
When our Lord shall come in power,
And glory from on high.
Oh, the glorious sight will gladden,
Each waiting, watchful eye,
In the crowning day that’s coming by and by.

Daniel Whittle, 1881
Read Revelation 21:5-7

In the midst of our daily lives and routines, it’s easy to lose sight of the eternal. This hymn serves as a gentle reminder to fix our eyes on the ultimate destination of our faith and Jesus Christ ruling and reigning. We have a great hope and with anticipation, we look for the day when our faith will be made sight. We have a glorious future!

Crown Him with many crowns,
The Lamb upon His throne,
Hark! how the heav’nly anthem drowns
All music but its own;
Awake, my soul, and sing
Of Him who died for thee,
And hail Him as thy matchless King
Thro’ all eternity.

Crown Him the Lord of life,
Who triumphed o’er the grave,
and rose victorious in the strife
For those He came to save;
His glories now we sing
Who died, and rose on high,
Who died eternal life to bring,
And lives that death may die.

Crown Him the Lord of peace,
Whose pow’r a scepter sways
From pole to pole, that wars may cease,
And all be pray’r and praise:
His reign shall know no end,
and round His pierced feet
Fair flow’rs of paradise extend
Their fragrance ever sweet.

Crown Him the Lord of love;
Behold his hands and side,
Those wounds, yet visible above,
In beauty glorified:
All hail, Redeemer, hail!
For Thou hast died for me:
Thy praise and glory shall not fail
Thro-out eternity.

Matthew Bridges, 1851, and Godfrey Thring, 1871
Read Daniel 7:13-14

This hymn builds on last week’s hymn. It is a little more thorough consideration of what kind of king Jesus will be and why He is fit to rule (and deserves our worship). The bottom line in all of it, though, is that He redeemed us through His death on the cross. It’s only fitting that we sing. “Awake, my soul, and sing/ Of Him who died for thee,/ And hail Him as thy matchless King/ Thro’ all eternity.”

Chorus:
We’re marching to Zion,
Beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We’re marching upward to Zion,
The beautiful city of God.

Come, we that love the Lord,
And let our joys be known;
Join in a song with sweet accord,
Join in a song with sweet accord,
And thus surround the throne,
And thus surround the throne.

Let those refuse to sing
Who never knew our God;
But children of the heav’nly King,
But children of the heav’nly King
May speak their joys abroad,
May speak their joys abroad. [Chorus]

The hill of Zion yields
A thousand sacred sweets
Before we reach the heav’nly fields,
Before we reach the heav’nly fields
Or walk the golden streets,
Or walk the golden streets. [Chorus]

Then let our songs abound,
And ev’ry tear be dry;
We’re marching through Immanuel’s ground,
We’re marching through Immanuel’s ground
To fairer worlds on high,
To fairer worlds on high. [Chorus]

Isaac Watts, 1707
Read Isaiah 2:2-4

Isaac Watts’ hymn points us to the future, to the kingdom when Christ rules and reigns. It is a uniquely joyful hymn. May we share in the hymn-writer’s joy and anticipation.

In the hour of trial,
Jesus, plead for me
lest by base denial
I unworthy be.
When you see me waver,
with a look recall,
nor for fear or favor
ever let me fall.

With forbidden pleasures
should this vain world charm
or its tempting treasures
spread to work me harm,
bring to my remembrance
sad Gethsemane
or, in darker semblance,
cross-crowned Calvary.

Should your mercy send me
sorrow, toil, and woe,
or should pain attend me
on my path below,
grant that I may never
fail your cross to view;
grant that I may ever
cast my care on you.

When my life is ending,
though in grief or pain,
when my body changes
back to dust again,
on your truth relying,
through that mortal strife,
Jesus, take me, dying,
to eternal life.

James Montgomery, 1834
Read Luke 22:54-62

“In the Hour of Trial” is an introspective prayer. It is an admission of fragility and a cry for help. Those situations and prayers may be familiar to us. Often our prayers are for relief from the suffering, essentially that our comfort be restored. But in this hymn, the prayer is when trials and troubles come, don’t let me deny you. Note, too, the third verse, “Should your mercy send me sorrow, toil, and woe.” Do we view our challenges as coming from God’s mercy? Hard times refine us in ways nothing else can. Our attitude when we face them reveals our true attitude toward God. May we have the surrender modeled in the hymn when we face our hour of trial.