Hymn Therapy awakens the quiet spirit in the senior folk and they tap their feet and sing each word from memory when I, on occasion have to look at the lyrics to get them right.
Oh, the joy. And even more than that, what power.
Music has power. And add the doctrine and truth of the hymns and you’ve got healing, life, and energy being birthed before your eyes. Everyone in ear shot of the sounds are changed.
In need of breaking through a stressed and restless spirit, an increased tempo is played and then the story. This is actually Christian testimony, universal.
And I must admit, this medley is individually my Christian story.
You see, there comes that day when the heart is touched by the Lord and the decision is made to follow Jesus.
Choosing to give our back to the world and face to the cross gives us courage and strength against the temptations that come every day.
Pressing in closer to God and growing in His grace and knowledge of His precious Son brings relationship unlike any other we can obtain here on earth.
Jesus is a friend that sticks closer than a brother, (Proverbs 18:24).
What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.
Talking to Him through the day becomes a common occurrence.
But I will confess at this time, I fail often. I have let circumstance, and the reactions and responses of others to move me, especially in my home. I get discouraged, tired, and what seems, faith-less.
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!
How we need infusion of hymn therapy at times like this.
The very act of singing the hymn gives opportunity for the heart to confess to God our weaknesses, which He already knows,
and our spirit is quickened again to what’s most important—faith that is pleasing to the Lord.
Are we weak and heavy-laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Yes, we are.
Precious Savior, still our refuge.
Oh, how we forget, especially drowning under the load of care.
What happens? What do we do?
Take it to the Lord in prayer, In His arms He’ll take and shield us.
He leads us to the cross.
His willingness, His surrender, His gentleness.
Can we find a friend so faithful? Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness, Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Then our faith returns, we are healed in heart and God can once again use us to bear fruit.
I may fail, but my Lord is perfect. He is my help in times of trouble. Jesus knows our every weakness, we can take it to the Lord in prayer.
Will you decide now, to follow Jesus? Will you decide now, to follow Jesus? Will you decide now, to follow Jesus? No turning back, no turning back.
Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony.
Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son.
And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life 1John 5:10-12.
If you decide now, to follow Jesus, simply talk with Him about washing away your sin. He’s paid the debt in full.
Ask Him to fill you with His Spirit. In His arms He’ll take and shield thee, Thou wilt find a solace there.
What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sin and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer.
Joseph M. Scriven, What a Friend We Have in Jesus, 1855.
Source Unknown, Folk Melody from India, I Have Decided to Follow Jesus.