Tag: devotion

Lord, you are the light of life

Today’s hymn from Sing Praise is “Lord you are the light of life to me” by Brian Hoare. After a run of three familiar songs, this one, and its composer, are new to me. Brian also composed the tune, which has the unusual metrical pattern of 9.10.11.10 and so can’t easily be substituted with another.  For once I’m writing this before seeing John’s rendition so maybe he will have written his own?

This is a personal sort of hymn, written in terms of “I and me”. It addresses the Lord Jesus directly as a friend, as well as a King (verse 5).  He is variously addressed as the light of life who guides me, the rock who keeps me safe when I am weak, the truth who brings freedom and liberty, the Lamb who died for love of me (and set an example for the way I should love others), and finally the king who reigns perfectly and unceasingly, in contrast to earth’s rulers.   Although new to me, this is a hymn I would be happy to use in a church service when occasion arises, as well as devotionally.

I will worship with all of my heart

Today’s song from Sing Praise is “I will worship with all of my heart” by Dave Ruis. It dates from 1991, I remember it being briefly popular around that time.  It’s a devotional song rather than a doctrinal hymn, and of course there is a place for both in the Church’s worship. The structure is that of ‘call and echo’ which can either be leader and congregation, or two sides of the congregation, or men and women, as preferred. Without the echo it would sound a bit odd, with pauses between two halves of each line.

The words are those of commitment: “I will worship with all of my heart, I will praise you with all of my strength, I will seek you all of my days, I will follow all of your ways”, and similar in the second verse and chorus. The whole song is available here.

The challenge, of course, is to put these fine words into practice.  Pledging during a worship meeting to devote oneself entirely to God is one thing, doing so in real life is another. But without making the pledge, there’s even less chance of fulfilling it.