Abide with me; fast falls the eventide; The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, oh abide with me. Henry F. Lyte 1847.
Spoken aloud, as on an evening walk, though sitting in one place, with the Creator of the Universe, there comes a release of tension and a new focus of heart.
Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day; Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away; Change and decay in all around I see— O Thou who chagest not, abide with me.
Loved ones in hospitals left alone, parents in nursing homes without family visits. Children unable to unite with friends. Teachers give virtual lessons in separated spaces. Ministers labor to unite hearts to hope. Grief and loss are endured in separation. Energy turns to weariness quickly, . . . Change and decay in all around I see—
O Thou who chagest not, abide with me.
We raise our hearts to be rescued and lifted. We cry aloud with amplified meaning,
“Abide with us . . . Remain with me. Lodge by my side. Dwell right here. Continue to stay, endure by my side, stay in my sight, encamp around me!”
We cry out these age-old words,
I need Thy presence every passing hour;
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.
And when we’re still, completely surrendered, as a seed in the ground who breaks down and dies, . . .
life unseen develops within, a calm, a comfort, . . . beyond understanding. And ears open and hearts receive, as a mist of the morning, God’s refreshing news:
Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint Isaiah 40:28-31.
Transformation happens. Nothing changes, save the heart and mind.
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, . . . Hebrews 4:12.
This hymn is our prayer:
I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness;
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.
We pray for the lonely, the elderly, the sick, our communities, our families, let’s pray for ourselves.
He. Is. The Vine.
Let’s open ourselves to His love and ask Him to abide. Grace sufficient is found in Him. Water, light, bread, the Way. Let’s pray these old words and receive the victory found at the cross. His pardon, His cleansing, His filling, His grace.
There is no fear in love. We can boldly proclaim, in Jesus name:
Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies;
Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me. Henry F. Lyte, 1847.
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand Isaiah 41:10.
Transformed. Renewed. All the while, Change and decay in all around I see—
we will pray,
O Thou who chagest not, abide with me.