My Hymn for this Year Scott Pauley

Posted in

I love hymns and am grateful to be part of a church that still sings them.  Meditate on the words of songs like Charles Wesley’s And Can It Be?  Few modern songs exhibit such an understanding of doctrine.  Real depth.

The great hymns of the faith are not just for public worship.  They are deeply personal.  Many famous Christians have testified that the use of a good hymn book was helpful to their devotional time.

Recently our Pastor recommended that we adopt a hymn for the year.  A song to learn and to “make our own.”  God led me to the powerful words of a lesser known hymn.  For the last few days I have been singing it to myself (for which everyone is thankful!) and thinking about the truth in each line.

Esther Duvall Eden was the sister-in-law of the famous Youth Evangelist, Percy Crawford.  Beyond that very little is known about the author of O Mighty God, How Wonderful Art Thou.  One thing I do know is that she knew God.  I look forward to meeting her in Heaven and worshiping our wonderful Lord together.  Until then I am enjoying the words she penned in 1959…

I walk at night beneath majestic skiesImage
And know behind them is a God all-wise,
Who fixed all stars, each in its lonely place,
And wrapped them in a darkened robe of space.

I see the moon, the stars in distant space,
And think of how the God of matchless grace
Is coming in the clouds to claim His own –
Such wonders that on earth cannot be known.

I scan the heav’ns with rapture in my soul
And wonder how the God Who made the whole
Could ever fix His thoughts on such as I
And give His Son upon the cross to die.

O mighty God, how wonderful art Thou
To love the world while heav’ns before Thee bow.
I fail to comprehend it all some how.
O mighty God, how wonderful art Thou.

Do you have a favorite hymn?  Is there a song that could be a real encouragement to your faith at this stage of the journey?  Spend a little time with an old hymn book.  You will be glad you did.


Discover more from Enjoying the Journey

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Post Author

More from similar topics

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Recent Posts

Now, I am no engineer! But the principle applies to us all: The easiest thing in the world is to have a complicated life. The hardest thing in the world is to have a simple life. You have to work hard to keep it simple.

You Have to Work Hard to Keep it Simple

The idea of building a monument was not that of Joshua, but of God. God instructed Joshua to have twelve men remove a stone from a prescribed place, place it on their shoulders and bear it up out of Jordan. It was to be taken to their place of lodging. What purpose could possibly be served in carrying twelve large river rocks approximately six or seven miles to Gilgal? God said to! In Joshua, we find that God is a monument builder. 

The Monument Builder

In the Second Boer War in South Africa, 13,000 British troops were trapped for 118 days in what is now known as the Siege of Ladysmith. Food diminished, and disease grew. Worst of all, discouragement set in. A civilian was arrested, tried, and sentenced to a year in jail for being a discourager! This man was not a traitor, but he walked around town and spoke discouraging things to men who were on guard against the enemy. The deepest wound you can inflict is to wound a person’s spirit (Proverbs 18:14). Image of the relief of the siege

The Power of Encouragement and the Peril of Discouragement 

In 2 Kings 5, we read a tale of three servants: Naaman, the Little Maid, and Gehazi. No matter your past, you can find healing like Naaman. Regardless of your circumstances, like the maid, God can bless and use you for eternity. Even if you have experienced great victory, you can fall into sin, just like Gehazi.

Bible Biographies: Naaman, the Little Maid, and Gehazi

4 Comments

  1. Byron Chesney on January 14, 2014 at 8:56 PM

    There are so many great Hymns it is hard to choose only one but if I were hard pressed, I guess I would have to choose William Cowper’s ‘There Is A Fountain Filled With Blood.’
    My family and I also really enjoy singing ‘Dear Saviour Thou Art Mine.’ We learned it a couple of years ago after hearing it on one of the broadcasts from Temple.

    • Scott Pauley on January 14, 2014 at 10:09 PM

      Two of my favorite! Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts.

  2. Annetta on January 15, 2014 at 11:53 AM

    This reply from a man in India to whom I sent the song you posted yesterday:

    “Thank you for sending such wonderful song which give us courage and strength a happy and peaceful life. Please do not fail to send such a precious article which are appreciable.”

    He has made a profession of faith, and renounced all other gods….

Leave a Reply