Remembering the Hymns

[Stacey Woods]

A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer.

On Sunday night, a friend of mine and I spent hours having a "hymn battle." We went back and forth seeing who could recall the words to the old songs of the church. It was fun to do, but before long we were rejoicing in God just at the remembrance of all those old songs. We had to catch ourselves several times, because the very words of the songs have the power to take you into a sacred place in God. Those songs have MEANING. They connected me to past times in which the Lord came through for me. Each hymn was like a road map that marked out victories along my journeys. They were songs that Grandpa sang before he prayed. So rich and so sweet, the hymns of the church brought comfort to my heart, and made me home sick. That night I could close my eyes and see the choir robes and hear the upright piano in the corner, and hear the hand clapping and the foot stomping, and the testimonies of the saints that usually followed the hymns. There are so many STORIES that are attached to the writing of the hymns, and in the very singing of them there is an awesome move of God's power.

I'm 27, but I am grateful that I was brought up in a church in which hymns were sang and committed to memory. Not only has it helped me as a singer to be diverse and to be able to know a wide range of musical repertoire, it just helps me as a Christian! There are songs that God will bring to you when you are going through that just TAKE YOU RIGHT INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD!

Today as I was sitting at my desk that is loaded with paper work and assignments for ministry, I began to become a bit teary eyed with all the things that have been placed before me to do. I began to also examine my current place of sacrifice for the sake of GOD AND HIS PEOPLE. IT'S HARD YALL! No for real, its not EASY to do all this stuff. Then, I heard a hymn. It said:

Count Your Blessings

Words: John­son Oat­man, Jr., in Songs for Young Peo­ple, by Ed­win Ex­cell (Chi­ca­go, Il­li­nois: 1897).

When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care? Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold, Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

So, amid the conflict whether great or small, Do not be disheartened, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey's end.

As I meditated on the hymn the Lord placed in my Spirit, I was reminded of the scripture:

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Eph 5:19

and also

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Col 3:16

It's with the singing of the hymns and Spiritual songs (any song that is birthed out of the Spirit) that we are encouraged, and reminded of the WORD of the Lord concerning us.

Have we missed out on major breakthroughs because we have neglected to sing the hymns? I've witnessed times in which I did not have to preach, prophesy, lay hands, or SAY anything. All I had to do was open my mouth and SING and the power of God was released to set His people free.

Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Jam 5:13

Whether you can sing or not, it might just bless you if you pull out a hymn and meditate on it. I know it blessed me today.

BE ENCOURAGED...IT GETS BETTER!

~SELAH~

[Stacey Woods]

watch it...the hymns will mess you up!

[Nzinga Jackson]

Well AMEN!! While I haven't been raised in church all my life, I did have a touch of it when I was a lil girl and there are some that I still remember. Even know, I'm learning them because they sing hymns and today's gospel in my church but I do remember, "At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light ........." and I remember, "Yes JESUS loves me, Yes JESUS loves me, Yes JESUS loves me, for the bible tells me so" and I don't think this one is a hymn but I love it, it goes "Feel the spirit, moving inside me, down in my footsteps, everydaaaaay, oh what joyful revelation, I can feel the spirit moving insiiiiide meeee, I can feel the spirit moving insiiiiise meee". And, "JESUS went to calvary to save a wretch like you and me, that's love, that's love, they hung HIM high, they stretched HIM wide, HE hung HIS head, for me HE died, that's Love." Girl I'm bout to have a fit up in HERE!!!