Olney Hymn 54: Love Constraining To Obedience
No strength of nature can suffice
To serve the Lord aright:
And what she has she misapplies,
For want of clearer light.
How long beneath the law I lay
In bondage and distress;
I toll'd the precept to obey,
But toil'd without success.
Then, to abstain from outward sin
Was more than I could do;
Now, if I feel its power within,
I feel I hate it too.
Then all my servile works were done
A righteousness to raise;
Now, freely chosen in the Son,
I freely choose His ways.
'What shall I do,' was then the word,
'That I may worthier grow?'
'What shall I render to the Lord?'
Is my inquiry now.
To see the law by Christ fulfilled
And hear His pardoning voice,
Changes a slave into a child,
And duty into choice.
poem by William Cowper
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Love Constrained to Obedience
No strength of nature can suffice
To serve the Lord aright:
And what she has she misapplies,
For want of clearer light.
How long beneath the law I lay
In bondage and distress;
I toll'd the precept to obey,
But toil'd without success.
Then, to abstain from outward sin
Was more than I could do;
Now, if I feel its power within,
I feel I hate it too.
Then all my servile works were done
A righteousness to raise;
Now, freely chosen in the Son,
I freely choose His ways.
"What shall I do," was then the word,
"That I may worthier grow?"
"What shall I render to the Lord?"
Is my inquiry now.
To see the law by Christ fulfilled
And hear His pardoning voice,
Changes a slave into a child,
And duty into choice.
poem by William Cowper
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Psalm 4
v. 1-3,5-7
L. M.
Hearing of prayer.
O God of grace and righteousness,
Hear and attend when I complain;
Thou hast enlarged me in distress,
Bow down a gracious ear again.
Ye sons of men, in vain ye try
To turn my glory into shame;
How long will scoffers love to lie,
And dare reproach my Savior's name?
Know that the Lord divides his saints
From all the tribes of men beside;
He hears the cry of penitents,
For the dear sake of Christ that died.
When our obedient bands have done
A thousand works of righteousness,
We put our trust in God alone,
And glory in his pardoning grace.
Let the unthinking many say,
"Who will bestow some earthly good?"
But, Lord, thy light and love we pray;
Our souls desire this heav'nly food.
Then shall my cheerful powers rejoice,
At grace and favors so divine;
Nor will I change my happy choice
For all their corn, and all their wine.
poem by Isaac Watts
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Following God
To follow God, it is my choice, as I hear that inner voice,
Of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, guiding me through my life,
To follow Him, as my guide, as Jesus walks by my side,
Guiding me, in all that I do; as He daily sees me through.
Given the choice, if I choose, to walk alone, I could lose,
The peace of God deep inside, when in the Spirit I abide;
Or blessing and joy my friend, as I go around each bend,
But, with Christ, I am content, wherever by God I am sent.
To walk in His Righteousness, life's filled with fruitfulness,
In my deeds along the way, as He guides me, day to day,
Fruitfulness which is from God, as I walk this earthly sod,
While I'm guided from above, in the Spirit's light and love.
If I choose to walk alone, I lose that power, of His Throne,
Power from the Spirit of Christ, to deal with trial and strife,
If I walk opposing the Spirit, ignoring His voice as I hear it,
I am open to the subtlety, of deceptive ways of the enemy.
So my choice is The Lord; my ways by Him aren't ignored,
As The Spirit truly guides me, in life with grace abundantly,
As He helps me live for God, led by Christ's staff and rod,
In this life, as He blesses me, as I'm on my way to Eternity.
(Copyright ©08/2012)
Fit To Serve
When men serve the Eternal King, whether they preach or they sing,
It is The Lord above we praise, as hearts and voice to Him we raise.
All the service that He calls men to, The Lord above helps them do,
Equipping every believer He calls, to many tasks and various roles.
God helps us with the task at hand, in ways we may not understand,
By equipping each and everyone, when we come to faith in His Son.
By grace God allows men to serve, in ways we truly do not deserve,
Serving in ways hard to believe, after God’s Spirit we have received.
Through The Spirit God fills you with, all the knowledge and the gift,
The gift to use the knowledge inside, using The Spirit as your guide.
God above has a plan for all of us, if we’d simply believe and trust,
We can serve the Lord in many ways, all through these earthly days.
In your heart, The Lord instills, His Truth and knowledge, as He wills,
And this knowledge of The Lord, in your service, by God is poured,
Onto men, whom you reach, through your witness and your speech,
As The Lord God uses your whole life, as a vessel for Jesus Christ.
A new vessel that belongs to Him; Christ, who saved us from all sin,
Cleansed and fit for the service of, the Lord God, who reigns above.
Using people, just like you and me, to move others towards eternity,
Where we will serve forevermore, when we reign with Christ our Lord.
(Copyright ©11/2007)
A Disciple of Christ
When you cleave onto God’s Word, the Truth of God that you heard,
And choose to follow Jesus Christ, allowing God’s Word into your life,
You then become a disciple of, The Lord and Savior and God above.
Only in Christ, are men truly free, with a freedom that spans Eternity.
It is a freedom which begins inside, when in Jesus Christ you abide.
In God’s Word is revealed proof, that Jesus Christ is the Living Truth.
Knowing this Truth sets men free; that is sinful men like you and me,
From the bondage we’re now in, the hidden bondage that we call sin.
As this Truth you’ve come to know, within your heart begins to grow,
You dear friend indeed will find, frees both your heart and your mind.
You will know just why Christ came, and endured the cross of shame,
With The Truth you can reason why, our Lord Jesus Christ had to die.
Friend, every heart that Christ frees, The Lord above fills with peace,
And His Truth supplies the Light, to lead you out of the darkest night.
Because this Truth is The Light, it’s the only way that’s eternally right.
The Way, the Truth and Life is but one, Jesus Christ, God’s Only Son.
This Truth my friend is Jesus Christ, Truth which leads to Eternal Life.
That is why only Christ can say; He is The Truth, The Light and Way.
Today embrace The Word of God; Truth will guide the path you trod,
Make His Word a part of your life, and you will be a disciple of Christ.
(Copyright ©08/2006)
Twenty Four Seven
Indeed, twenty four seven is He, my Lord and God of Eternity,
Ever present, He’s always there; only One, Who is everywhere,
Every minute through every hour; during a trial I needn’t cower,
As He, who rules earth and sky, shall remain with me until I die.
On my Lord there’s no restraint, He will neither slumber or faint,
Christ is not limited in His ways, regarding powers He displays,
Moving in all Grace and Power, upon our lives any day or hour,
As God works out His Decree, through the lives of you and me.
God’s not answerable to anyone, up in Heaven or under the sun,
He always was and always will be, the only Lord over all eternity,
God changes the plans of men, not hindered, by where or when,
As He fulfills His Eternal Plan, through the lives of common man.
And it’s through the Spirit of Christ, that God guides my very life,
Teaching and growing me each day, as He guides me all the way;
The Lord’s Holy Spirit, I received, when in Christ Jesus I believed,
So that in God’s Truth I can abide, with God’s Spirit, as my guide.
Now as Christ reigns in Heaven, He is with me, twenty four seven,
Allowing me to serve on the earth, through the power of new birth;
The joy of serving, God will afford, to all who know Christ as Lord,
Long after we leave this earth, as my Lord God I continue to serve.
(Copyright ©12/2010)
Hymn 98
Christ our wisdom, righteousness, etc.
1 Cor. 1:30.
How heavy is the night
That hangs upon our eyes,
Till Christ with his reviving light
Over our souls arise!
Our guilty spirits dread
To meet the wrath of Heav'n;
But, in his righteousness arrayed,
We see our sins forgiv'n.
Unholy and impure
Are all our thoughts and ways;
His hands infected nature cure
With sanctifying grace.
The powers of hell agree
To hold our souls in vain;
He sets the sons of bondage free,
And breaks the cursed chain
Lord, we adore thy ways
To bring us near to God;
Thy sovereign power, thy healing grace,
And thine atoning blood.
poem by Isaac Watts
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Lord Give Us The Strength
Lord Give Us The Strength.....,
To suppress our fears....,
Lord Give Us The Strength....,
To fight our tears....,
It's a rough, tough, world...,
Every day is a test...,
But powerful and proud...,
We’ll always do our best....,
Still more and more....,
We need your support....,
So Lord Give Us The Strength....,
Lord Give Us The Strength.
Lord Give Us The Strength.....,
To keep the faith….,
Lord Give Us The Strength....,
To conquer hate…,
It’s a harsh, cruel road…,
We travel through life…,
But we feel comfort….,
Guided by your light....,
Still on and on….,
We pray for your love....,
And to worship you....,
Is our sole intent......,
So Lord Give Us The Strength....,
Lord Give Us The Strength.
poem by Trade Martin
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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How Will They Believe?
How many hearts will receive, God’s Eternal Message and believe?
The Word of Truth, as they hear it, when moved by The Holy Spirit.
But before believing they must hear, God’s Truth, which is so near,
The Living Truth, Who lives within, all believers saved from their sin.
How will they hear with no preacher, those without a Godly teacher?
Those willing to share God’s Word, until all on the earth have heard,
The Truth of our Lord’s Salvation, in The Light of God’s Revelation,
Sharing with everybody in our life, the Saving Truth of Jesus Christ.
Who is it that The Lord has sent, to warn all other people to repent?
To turn away from darkened ways, to follow Christ, to God’s praise,
Turning sinners to a different path, to avoid God’s Righteous Wrath,
Turning them form things not right, to walk a new life in God’s Light.
Friend is this not to be all of us, who have believed in Christ Jesus?
Who are sent by God above, to share with others our Savior’s Love,
Through the message of the Cross, with men who are presently lost,
So they can be saved by Grace, when The Truth, they also embrace.
Won’t you this day, make a choice, to be for Jesus Christ, a voice?
Making your Purpose in this life, pointing all others to Jesus Christ,
For beautiful are the feet of those, who The Lord and Savior chose,
To bring others His Good News, when His Will, is what you choose.
(Copyright ©07/2009)
Changing Attitude
True believers, who know the Lord, by the Apostle are implored,
To make changes in their life, to become more like Jesus Christ,
Through His power, we are endued, to have a Christ like attitude,
Putting in place all we've heard; life changes found in The Word.
Recognition is what we need, this, as we follow The Spirit's lead,
God's Word sharp as a sword, brings to light changes implored,
Change spoken of by Apostle Paul, are to be pursued by us all,
To be more like Jesus Christ, as we seek to be a living sacrifice.
Renewal is then not only desired, but, by The Lord it is required,
This, to renew our heart and mind, to leave our old ways behind,
No longer shall we be conformed, to this world but transformed,
Conforming to the will of Christ, as we honor God with New Life.
Replacing in our life old ways, with a newness unto God's praise,
A new life substituting sinfulness, with our Lord's Righteousness,
As we died for Christ, that old man, is now dead, per God's Plan,
As the power of His Salvation, makes all believers a new creation.
Run hard then, this life's race, through the power of God's Grace,
Running in a way that pleases Him, the One Who died for our sin,
That we too can be a sacrifice, living for our Savior, Jesus Christ,
Living to please The Lord above, compelled by our Savior's love.
Hymn 97
Christ our wisdom, righteousness, etc.
1 Cor. 1:30.
Buried in shadows of the night
We lie till Christ restores the light;
Wisdom descends to heal the blind,
And chase the darkness of the mind.
Our guilty souls are drowned in tears
Till his atoning blood appears;
Then we awake from deep distress,
And sing, "The Lord our Righteousness."
Our very frame is mixed with sin,
His Spirit makes our natures clean
Such virtues from his suff'rings flow,
At once to cleanse and pardon too.
Jesus beholds where Satan reigns,
Binding his slaves in heavy chains;
He sets the pris'ners free, and breaks
The iron bondage from our necks.
Poor helpless worms in thee possess
Grace, wisdom, power, and righteousness;
Thou art our mighty All, and we
Give our whole selves, O Lord, to thee.
poem by Isaac Watts
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Wayward Sheep
They’re on a path and know not why, attracted by their heart and eye,
A path we would choose to forsake, is one which they chose to take.
Falling prey to the darkened one, who stands opposed to God’s Son,
Seducing believers like you and me, to follow the path of their enemy.
Through the power of his devices, Satan subtly allures and he entices,
Young believers to look and stray, from God’s light to his darker way,
As he seeks to deceive and destroy, a child’s life and the parent’s joy,
Who raised them in Truth and Light, only to fall into the darkened night.
The battle at hand, when implored, through prayer belongs to our Lord,
Though dark the battle seems to be, He’s the One to assure us victory,
The unchanging Lord, full of Grace, will choose the time and the place,
To draw that wayward heart to Him, and lead them from the path of sin.
When concerned parents do their part, to follow God with all their heart,
The final outcome we can be assured, rests with Jesus Christ, our Lord,
Who works in ways we don’t know, to help all His sheep learn and grow.
As the Shepherd leads lost sheep back, in ways that we as parents lack.
We may never know just how or why, our children can fall for Satan’s lie,
But the Truth of God shall overcome, for all Believers, not just for some,
And the Lord, Who changes not at all, will restore children when they fall,
So children He allowed us to raise, will walk with Him, all to God’s praise.
(Copyright ©12/2008)
Hymn 85
Salvation, righteousness, and strength in Christ.
Isa. 45:21-25.
The Lord on high proclaims
His Godhead from his throne:
"Mercy and justice are the names
By which I will be known.
"Ye dying souls that sit
In darkness and distress,
Look from the borders of the pit
To my recov'ring grace."
Sinners shall hear the sound;
Their thankful tongues shall own,
"Our righteousness and strength is found
In thee, the Lord, alone."
In thee shall Isr'el trust,
And see their guilt forgiv'n;
God will pronounce the sinners just,
And take the saints to heav'n.
poem by Isaac Watts
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Shrouded In Mystery
The morning sun, clothed in clouds, is one of God’s striking shrouds,
Just as God’s shrouded in light, impenetrable by the darkest of night,
Unapproachable as He may be, He’s God of the present and Eternity,
Being a God, that we cannot see, He shrouds life, at times in mystery.
At times God moves in our days, for His purpose in mysterious ways,
For God’s shrouded in mystery, while working in lives, of you and me,
As the secret tings belong to God, Who reigns above this earthly sod,
In ways, we could not comprehend, for above us, His ways transcend.
But all things done for me and you, the Good Lord will see us through,
Through every trial that we will face, God will shroud us with His Grace,
And blessings The Lord will bestow, upon us in ways we’d never know,
As The Lord works in mysterious ways, unto our Lord, we lift all praise.
For we are shrouded in the Blood, of God’s Son, sent for us with love.
Sent to The Cross of Mount Calvary, to be a sacrifice, for you and me,
And today that blood, spilt by Him, covers not some, but all of our sin,
For The Savior alone paid the price, so we could be His living sacrifice.
Christ came to earth, to die for us, now we live our life for Christ Jesus,
To serve our Lord in this present time, for a purpose that is truly divine,
And Christ shall remove many shrouds, when we see Him in the clouds,
When Christ returns for you and me, we’ll serve our Lord, for all eternity.
(Copyright ©06/2011)
Strength From God
As more darkness looms ahead, I will look to my Savior instead,
For God’s strength, one more time, in this trial, not of my design,
And as God’s done before, strength He’ll supply and much more,
As God leads me through the night, in His strength and His might.
My own endurance through this trial, will not last, there’s no denial,
God’s resources, I can’t deplete, so in God, my strength’s replete.
With His strength He gives peace, that, from God, shall not cease,
As He’s helped me in past days, He’ll strengthen me to His praise.
Though weak and frail, I may be, that strength that God grants me,
Helps me through minute to hour, not through mine but His power,
Divine power, He extends by grace, for each and every trial I face,
Through the strength of The Lord, I know my ways will be restored.
Through my own strength I would fall, but, He is Lord God over all,
Over all the ways, within my life, as I follow The Lord, Jesus Christ,
Who guides me each and every day, lighting even the darkest way,
By God, dark days are not ignored, for I’m led by Christ, my Lord,
When I am weak, He is strong, so following God, I can’t go wrong;
Grace God sends by His design, into my life, at just the right time,
So never is it too early or too late, as for God’s grace I never wait,
For He Who cares so much for me, is The Lord God, over Eternity.
(Copyright ©02/2011)
Surrender
Surrender to God’s awesome will, and watch His purpose be fulfilled.
God’s purpose in your life will be, a treasure for you through Eternity.
Surrender is never for the weak, but men who are humble and meek.
For when you surrender to The Lord, you don’t know what’s in store.
When you surrender you don’t lose, as you become one God can use.
Christ will use you in various ways, as The Lord fills out all your days.
A life of surrender is the only door, to properly serve The Living Lord.
Surrender is the required sacrifice, for a life pleasing to Jesus Christ.
Earthly desires throughout the day, simply hinder and get in the way.
But surrender my friend sets aside, earthly plans that would only die.
Christ exchanges all your desires, for a purpose that is much higher.
And a surrendered life for Jesus Christ, continues on into Eternal Life.
If you think you’ll lose out on life, remember what was done by Christ.
Christ put aside all that He was, to endure a cross for sinners like us.
Surrender will indeed alter your plans, as you follow The Son of Man.
But when you do surrender my friend, you join a plan that has no end.
True surrender comes with power, and guides you every day and hour.
And surrender isn’t surrender at all, but a fulfilled life in The Lord of all.
For it’s not my will that will be done, but it is the will of God’s Only Son.
So surrender today to Jesus Christ, and you friend inherit Eternal Life.
In Christ Is Life
We have peace and God’s presence, wherever The Good Lord sends us,
Even when no peace can be found, Christ sets our feet on stable ground.
God gives our feet a steadiness, through The Lord’s own Righteousness,
The Righteousness of Jesus Christ; this through His Spirit and New Life.
The Lord, who sets us on our course, will be for us, God’s faithful source,
Of His Peace and Light along the way, even in through life’s darkest day.
God’s Peace shall comfort any heart, which trusts in Christ from the start,
Anyone who calls upon Jesus Christ, to lead them through their daily life.
Daily Christ Jesus can give to you, the Grace of God to see you through,
He’ll see you through each day and hour, with His Grace and His Power.
My Friend, even in the darkest night, Christ will guide you with His Light,
In this world The Lord Jesus Christ, is for all men today, The Light of life.
Christ can guide all men my friend, from their beginning to the very end,
The Lord can guide both you and me, from earth’s beginning to Eternity.
And God above can guide everyone, through Jesus Christ His Only Son,
For His One and Only Son, Jesus Christ, is the very Author of every life.
Jesus Christ is Creator and He’s God, of the very earth that all men trod,
God who placed you upon this earth, in Christ can give you a New Birth,
To be born again and live forevermore, with our God and Christ our Lord.
Today come to God through Jesus Christ, and you will have Eternal Life.
(Copyright ©01/2007)
Grateful To Serve
I’m grateful to be a child of God, adopted through my Savior’s Blood,
From The Precious Blood of Christ, afforded through God’s Sacrifice;
Once under direction of God’s foe, The Lord and Savior, I didn’t know,
But, no longer living as God’s enemy, I’m now a child of God eternally.
My previous, dark and sinful life, was changed by the Power of Christ,
Through the Authority of His Throne, I was saved to be one of His own,
Raised up, out of the dark of night, to be filled with His Truth and Light,
As God’s witness, to others like me, who have not yet come to Calvary.
Now, today being a child of The Lord, guidance from God, is implored,
When quite frequently in my daily walk, with my Savior I pause and talk,
As daily I consider all of God’s ways, while I live out these earthly days,
This, to be a sound testimony for Him, Christ, who saved me out of sin.
God saved me, with His Plan in mind, as I leave those old ways behind,
His plan purposed in Heaven above, prepared for me with Christ’s Love;
His good work, prepared for all of us, who chose to follow Christ Jesus,
Using our lives from place to place, speaking to others about His Grace.
So my present life, to my God I give, and for my Savior I choose to live,
And the more in Truth, that I grow, the more God’s Spirit helps me know,
That I also, must choose to pay a price, to be for God, a living sacrifice,
Through His Grace and His Power, to be His witness every day and hour.
(Copyright ©05/2010)
Steps To Sanctification
After accepting God’s Salvation, we proceed into sanctification,
As all believers are sanctified, by the One, who for sinners died,
Though we’re sanctified by the Lord, our part cannot be ignored,
Set apart for God, in this life, we’ve new steps ordered by Christ.
Feeding on the Word of God, while we live upon this earthly sod,
To get a Heavenly point of view, for the earthly issues we pursue,
As The Truths of God we must know, for a Christian to truly grow,
That source being His Holy Word; to what the Believer is referred.
Fill yourself with the Holy Spirit, to obey the Word, as you hear it,
For He is Comforter and Guide, the third person not to be denied,
Being filled with The Spirit friend, God’s purpose will be your end,
As He guides us, while in this life, to be a New Creature for Christ.
Flee from your former way of sin, this as that battle begins within,
A battle between old and new, as a New Life for God you pursue,
But if you flee with all your might, God will help to do what’s right,
As you yield The Lord your heart, those old ways will soon depart.
Fellowship among God’s Family, while you pursue Christ regularly,
Forsaking not the fellowship with, others who accepted God’s Gift,
The Gift of Life through His Son, as Christ’s Body we become one,
As believers in Him by New Birth, we’re the Body of Christ on earth.
Faithfully serve the Living God, while lead by Christ’s staff and rod,
Adhering to God’s Holy Word, by living out Truths that we’ve heard,
Willing to become God’s sacrifice, for our Lord, who paid the price,
While on a cross of condemnation, purchased for us Sanctification.
(Copyright ©05/2009)
Freedom To Serve
Become God’s servant to be free, when you go through Calvary,
The only place on earth indeed, when as a servant you are freed;
Freed through the Blood of Christ, from the bondage of this life,
A Freedom only known to man, through God’s Redemptive Plan.
God bought us out of slavery, with precious Blood from Calvary,
Purchased from the market of sin; granting freedom deep within,
Freedom by us that wasn’t sought, which the Lord for us bought,
Offering His Son, our Lord Jesus, as payment made for all of us.
When we’re freed, we’re then sent, by our Lord, as God’s servant,
Here in service to the Son of God, on this earth that we now trod,
No longer slaves in bondage to sin, we delight in service for Him,
Now as we serve the King of kings, our new freedom in Him rings.
We’re now free to serve our Lord, as Christ’s Body, in one accord,
Now serving with the mind of Christ, for God gave us all New Life,
Eternal Life, which we don’t deserve, which is why we gladly serve,
By God’s Grace, with freedom, as God’s servants in His Kingdom.
All because God paid that price, when His Son became a sacrifice,
Christ, Who had no reason to die, served as a Lamb, for you and I,
To grant us real freedom my friend, that from The Lord has no end,
As we come to The Lord Jesus, to serve eternally in God’s Service.
(Copyright ©08/2010)