SINGING HIS PRAISES! by Betty Fritz
One of my favorite things about going to church has always been the singing. One of the first songs I sang after being saved was BLESSED ASSURANCE. I knew the words because I’d been singing it along with my sister for some “thing” she had going on at church. After I accepted Jesus the words ran through my mind…this time with meaning. “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!” How great that made me feel! “Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!” If this was just a foretaste of God’s love, how much better could it get? Even if the sermon leaves a bit to be desired as they sometimes do, the singing always gets the message across.
How can we sing about THE OLD RUGGED CROSS and not be moved to tears of joy and compassion? ONE DAY tells the story of how Jesus died for our sins. was buried and rose again. “One day He’s coming…oh glorious day!!” AT CALVARY makes me realize how long I went without knowing that it was for me he died. If I’d only known before… how different life could have been. “Mercy there was great and grace was free” how these words make my heart sing! If not for His grace I’d never have known the joy of salvation.
HE LIVES assures us that we serve a risen Savior who is in the world today walking and talking to us along life’s narrow way. Aren’t these words beautiful? Don’t they just blow you away? Simple words but such deep meaning in every one! Love isn’t complicated when it comes from God. He tells us in His word to “Take my yoke upon you , and learn of Me. For I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest upon your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:29-30.
We sing songs of cloudless days in a land where we’ll never grow old! There’s joy that fills our heart because we know that WHEN THE ROLL IS CALLED UP YONDER we’ll be there! All these songs are a sermon within themselves. We usually only sing verses one and two then skip to the last one… for lack of time I guess. A few years ago when our church got new hymnals they offered the old ones to those of us who wanted one so I gladly took a copy. Now I can go back and see what the other verses have to say.
Many of the songs tell of Jesus’ return, meeting Him face to face and telling our story of being saved by grace. They tell us to ONLY TRUST HIM and we’re NEVER ALONE. I’m reminded how LOVE LIFTED ME and now safe am I. Every time I sing or hear this one it reminds me of our beloved song leader back home in Texas. He had a deep beautiful voice and he could hold a note with the best of them. His “looove” went on forever! Even on days when the sermon didn’t quite lift me up the singing always did.
Some say that these old hymns are becoming obsolete and they’re being replaced by newer more modern songs which are more in-tune with the current times. I hope we don’t allow this to become a trend and all these great songs can be preserved and enjoyed for the rest of time.
Finally we come to the songs of invitation. JUST AS I AM always touches my soul and fills me with awe of a Lord who, although I didn’t deserve it, welcomed me into His arms just as I was, sin and all, (which He promised to remember no more) and made me a part of His family. “SOFTLY AND TENDERLY Jesus is calling, Oh, sinner, come home!”
There are many more: Songs of worship and praise, battle songs to cheer us on and patriotic ones too. Whether you’re one who sings along or might just hum the tune, let me encourage you to pay attention to the words and apply them to your heart and your situation. One of the best gifts I ever received was a book with some background on the writers of many of these songs. Let me assure you they are truly inspired and written from personal experience. Next time you get a chance, grab a hymnal and start singing His praises!
About Betty Fritz:
My name is Betty Fritz. I was born and raised in Texas but have resided in Elkhart, Indiana for the last 25 years. My husband is a Hoosier so that’s how we wound up here. We have two daughters and a son plus 6 grand kids…..3 boys and 3 girls.
I retired last year after working for 24 years at Elkhart Child Development Center. I’ve been writing since a teenager and have taken several writing courses. I enjoy writing short stories. I wrote a book of poems, RHYMES OF THE TIMES, which was published a few years ago. I have written countless songs, a few for which demo recordings have been made. Recently I’ve been writing blogs..most of them about my faith and things the Lord has taught me in my Christian life over the last 51 years. My inspiration comes from my personal relationship with Jesus Christ and my desire to see that my grand children grow up in a Christian nation. My goal is to bring glory to Him and help others to see that there is POWER in the name of JESUS!
Just BEAUTIFUL. Love all the songs you mentioned. Just As I Am makes me cry EVERY time. And An Old Rugged Cross. That was my mama’s favorite. I can hear her singing it up in HEAVEN. Thank you for this inspiring article Betty. You are such a BLESSING! :)