These posts focus our hearts and minds on the One who is worthy

Refrain:
Dare to be a Daniel!
Dare to stand alone!
Dare to have a purpose firm!
Dare to make it known!

Standing by a purpose true,
heeding God’s command,
honor them, the faithful few!
All hail to Daniel’s band!

Many mighty men are lost,
daring not to stand,
who for God had been a host
by joining Daniel’s band. [Refrain]

Many giants, great and tall,
stalking through the land,
headlong to the earth would fall,
if met by Daniel’s band. [Refrain]

Hold the gospel banner high;
on to vict’ry grand;
Satan and his host defy,
and shout for Daniel’s band. [Refrain]

Philip Bliss, 1873
Read Daniel 9:8-19

(Not only did Daniel hold onto his convictions in a culture where compromise would have been easy. Not only that but he fervently prayed for his people. Holiness and intercession. We need those in the body of Christ.)

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Check out more hymns.

A parting hymn we sing
around your table, Lord;
again our grateful tribute bring,
our solemn vows record.

Here have we seen your face,
and felt your presence here;
so may the savor of your grace
in word and life appear.

We’re purchased by your blood,
by sin no longer led;
the path our dear Redeemer trod
may we rejoicing tread.

In self forgetting love
be our communion shown,
until we join the church above,
and know as we are known.

Aaron Wolfe, 1858
Read Mark 14:17-25

(We regularly participate in some remembrance of the last Passover Jesus celebrated with His disciples. We may observe it weekly, monthly, quarterly or some other schedule. We call it the Lord’s Supper or Communion or maybe something else. But what is it? Why do we do it? A Parting Hymn gives us one idea: “so may the savor of your grace in word and life appear.” Savor is a word we usually use in the kitchen. But we savor things because they are delightful. We should leave the table delighting in the grace Christ has shown us in both inviting to share in this intimate moment, but in saving us. We see His grace every day. The more we recognize it the more we delight in it and in our Savior.)

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Read more: Savior Again

Down to the sacred wave
The Lord of Life was led;
And He who came our souls to save
In Jordan bowed His head.

He taught the solemn way;
He fixed the holy rite;
He bade His ransomed ones obey,
And keep the path of light.

Blest Saviour, we will tread
In Thy appointed way.
Let glory o’er these scenes be shed,
And smile on us today.

Samuel Smith, 1843
Read Philippians 2:5-11

(Down the Sacred Wave is a short hymn that simply communicates how Christ set His deity aside to come and live as man. He not only saved us but He left us a pattern. A few years ago, WWJD became a catchword. It is unfortunate that it was reduced to a slogan because constantly checking ourselves against the standard of Jesus is a wise way to live. May God help us measure up.)

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O Sacred Head, Now Wounded

Refrain:
Let the lower lights be burning!
Send a gleam across the wave!
Some poor fainting, struggling seaman
You may rescue, you may save.

Brightly beams our Father’s mercy
From His lighthouse evermore,
But to us He gives the keeping
Of the lights along the shore.

Dark the night of sin has settled,
Loud the angry billows roar;
Eager eyes are watching, longing,
For the lights along the shore. [Refrain]

Trim your feeble lamp, my brother!
Some poor sailor tempest tossed,
Trying now to make the harbor,
In the darkness may be lost. [Refrain]

Philip Bliss, 1871
Read Psalm 108:1-6

(Jesus said He came to seek and save the lost. How can we do any less? We can keep those lights burning by living in a way that draws others to Christ, by showing sacrificial love and compassion, by treating everyone with dignity just as Christ did. Keep those lamps trimmed!)

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Some additional encouragement: Be the Light

Savior, again to thy dear name we raise
with one accord our parting hymn of praise.
We stand to bless thee ere our worship cease,
and now, departing, wait thy word of peace.

Grant us thy peace upon our homeward way;
with thee began, with thee shall end the day;
guard thou the lips from sin, the hearts from shame,
that in this house have called upon thy name.

Grant us thy peace, Lord, through the coming night;
turn thou for us its darkness into light;
from harm and danger keep thy children free,
for dark and light are both alike to thee.

Grant us thy peace throughout our earthly life,
our balm in sorrow, and our stay in strife;
then, when thy voice shall bid our conflict cease,
call us, O Lord, to thine eternal peace.

John Ellerton, 1866
Numbers 6:22-26

(“Savior, again.” Just the title is enough to remind us how often we need to seek the blessing, peace, and favor from Christ. Each day as we set out and throughout the day until we return home. We hear in the hymn echoes of the Aaronic blessing in Numbers. Lord once again, grant us your peace.”

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Another great hymn about peace: Wonderful Peace

I gave My life for thee,
My precious blood I shed,
That thou might’st ransomed be,
And quickened from the dead;
I gave, I gave My life for thee,
What hast thou giv’n for Me?
I gave, I gave My life for thee,
What hast thou giv’n for Me? 

My Father’s house of light,
My glory circled throne, 
I left for earthly night,
For wanderings sad and lone;
I left, I left it all for thee,
Hast thou left aught for Me?
I left, I left it all for thee,
Hast thou left aught for Me?

I suffered much for thee,
More than thy tongue can tell,
Of bitt’rest agony,
To rescue thee from hell;
I’ve borne, I’ve borne it all for thee,
What hast thou borne for Me?
I’ve borne, I’ve borne it all for thee,
What hast thou borne for Me?

And I have brought to thee,
Down from My home above,
Salvation full and free,
My pardon and My love;
I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee,
What hast thou brought to Me?
I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee,
What hast thou brought to Me?

Francis Havergal, 1858
Read Galatians 2:20

(“I Gave My Life for Thee” is a challenging hymn. It causes us to confront the reasons why we follow Jesus and the expectations we bring to discipleship. Do we follow Jesus so He can make our lives easy or comfortable? Are we indignant at the thought that we must give up things that pull us away from Him? Are we scandalized by the thought of sacrificing for the kingdom of God? What exactly have we given, left, borne or brought to Him? May we prayerfully and genuinely consider the questions the hymn poses.)

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Here’s another hymn of commitment: Take My Life and Let It Be