Lift up your heads, O ye gates And be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors And the King of Glory shall come in! Who is this King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle Lift up your heads, O ye gates And be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors And…
Author: Charles A. Bennett
Reflecting on “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”: A Call to Rejoice in God’s Glory
There is a certain power in the hymn “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee.” It’s a song that, for me, stirs a longing to live fully in God’s light and, above all, to praise Him with every breath. Inspired by Beethoven’s Ode to Joy and filled with images of creation’s beauty, this hymn seems to point…
The Graciousness of God in the Life of a Believer
Life has a way of humbling us. The highs and lows of our journey often leave us with more questions than answers, but for those who have tasted the graciousness of God, there’s an unshakeable truth that undergirds every season of life. That truth is the goodness and mercy of God, which carry us far…
Take My Life and Let It Be: A Reflection on Surrendering to God’s Will
I’ve often found myself moved by the hymn “Take My Life and Let It Be,” but it wasn’t until I faced personal trials that its message took root in my heart. This simple yet profound hymn is a prayer of surrender—of giving every part of our lives to the Lord’s service. Yet, how often do…
Come Ye Disconsolate: A Reflection on Christ’s Comfort
1. Come, ye disconsolate, where’er ye languish, Come to the mercy seat, fervently kneel; Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish: Earth has no sorrow that heav’n cannot heal. 2. Joy of the desolate, light of the straying, Hope of the penitent, fadeless and pure! Here speaks the Comforter, tenderly saying, “Earth has…
Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul: A Reflection on Finding Comfort in Christ
The hymn Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul has always struck a chord with me, especially in seasons of hardship. It’s like someone sat down and captured the cries of my heart during the most challenging times. Anne Steele, the hymn’s author, puts words to what many of us feel—this longing to find a…
Faith, Hope, and a Life Worthy of the Lord
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the…
Reflecting on God’s Divine Will (again)
This hymn returns to my thoughts often and always gives me more to consider. Whate’er my God ordains is right His holy will abideth I will be still whate’er He does and follow where He guideth He is my God, though dark my road He holds me that I shall not fall And so to…
Beholding the Cross: Reflecting on “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”
When I Survey The Wonderous Cross When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of Glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ, my God; All the vain things that charm me…
A Heart Occupied by Grace: Reflecting on “O Great God”
O Great God Of Highest Heaven O great God of highest heaven Occupy my lowly heart Own it all and reign supreme Conquer every rebel power Let no vice or sin remain That resists Your holy war You have loved and purchased me Make me Yours forevermore I was blinded by my sin Had no…