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In light of everything going on these days and looking forward to a less-than-certain future, we need all the strength we can muster. I gain much strength from reading God's Word and, as you might imagine, from music.
When I was thinking about songs having to do with strength, I compiled a list of several hymns that I might share with you. Then, just a few minutes ago as I began to compile my thoughts, this song from Sunday School from a LONG time ago popped into my head:
God gives His people strength if we believe in His way.
He's swift to repay all those who bear the burden of the day.
God gives His people strength.
I will truthfully admit that I did not remember all the lyrics, so I went to YouTube where I found not one stanza, but FOUR stanzas of this song! I know that I only learned the first stanza. The other three stanzas are as follows: God gives His people hope; God gives His people love; God gives His people peace. I listened to a gorgeous arrangement for women's ensemble and harp!
The hymn I was definitely going to share is The Navy Hymn -- Eternal Father, Strong to Save. As I read through the various stanzas, I was reminded of the floods and storms that many people have been having these past few weeks. Here are the four stanzas of this hymn:
Eternal Father, strong to save, whose arm has bound the restless wave,
who bade the mighty ocean deep its own appointed limits keep;
oh, hear us when we cry to thee for those in peril on the sea.
O Savior, whose almighty word the winds and waves submissive heard,
who walked upon the foaming deep, and calm amid the storm didst sleep;
oh, hear us when we cry to thee for those in peril on the sea.
O Holy Spirit, who didst brood upon the chaos dark and rude,
and bid its angry tumult cease, and give, for wild confusion, peace;
oh, hear us when we cry to thee for those in peril on the sea.
O Trinity of love and power, all travelers guard in danger's hour
from rock and tempest, fire and foe, protect them wheresoe'er they go;
thus evermore shall rise to thee glad hymns and praise from land and sea.
And then I'd like to share the second stanza of one of my all-time-favorite hymns, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God:
No strength of our can match his might! We would be lost, rejected.
But now a champion comes to fight, whom God himself elected.
You ask who this may be? The Lord of hosts is he!
Christ Jesus, mighty Lord, God's only Son, adored.
He holds the field victorious.
Pray for strength from the Lord, and He will certainly give it to you in great measure!
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