hymn

A Closer Walk

/ Gail Johnson / 20 Comments

A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps (Proverbs 16:9 KJV).

Life

Remember those plans I shared earlier? I did not complete everything, but I finished the most important tasks on my to-do list.

Spending time with Jesus.
Studying the book of James with my daughter.
Finishing edits on my novel.

I am pleased with this summer despite being sick for several weeks. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed digging into the book of James. And I’m still rummaging through it. James’ words to “the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad” stirred a greater desire to draw closer to my Lord.

The Song

As we studied and prayed, the hymn “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” came to mind. Have you heard it? I have sung and played this song for years. But I never noticed the top of the page until this week. When searching my hymnals this week, I was surprised to find the words and music attributed to an anonymous author. So we can only guess what the author was thinking and feeling while writing the words.

Disappointed, I searched the title online. Rather than find the author, I found the man who made the song famous. Horace C. Boyer wrote the story of Kenneth Morris and the well-known hymn in How Sweet the Sound.

While resting at a train station in 1940, songwriter Kenneth Morris heard a porter singing “Just a Closer Walk with Thee.” The song stuck. Morris continued his journey but was unable to forget the lyrics. At the next train station, he purchased a return ticket. When he arrived back at the station, he found the porter and asked him to sing the song again so he could write down the words. He added more lyrics and later published the song that same year. Morris gave the porter credit in a line below the title.

“As sung by Mr. William B. Hurst of Kansas City. Mo.”

In 1944, he took it to the National Baptist Convention, and everyone loved it. The song has been recorded by artists such as Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Patsy Cline, Merle Haggard, Alan Jackson, Johnny Cash, Bob Dillon, Oak Ridge Boys, Alabama, Ike and Tina Turner, Mahalia Jackson, Sara Evans, Willie Nelson, Wynton Marsalis and Eric Clapton, Anne Murray, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Randy Travis, Lynda Randle, The Jackson Southernaires, Charley Pride, BJ Thomas, Connie Smith, The Jordanaires, Jimmy Swaggart, and Jerry Lee Lewis.

As you can see, it has been sung to diverse audiences. From New Orleans to Nashville to New York City. From country to gospel to jazz to rock and roll. I found that amazing. Let’s take a look at the lyrics.

Just a Closer Walk with Thee

I am weak but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong.
I’ll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.

(Truth)
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13).

During seasons of trials and temptations, our weaknesses are revealed. But there is power in the name of Jesus. Through His blood, we can triumph over the enemy! The key is to study the Bible, pray daily, and walk by His side on the straight and narrow path.

Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea.
Daily walking close to the Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

(Truth)
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake (Psalm 23:3).
Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths (Psalm 25:4).
All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies (Psalm 25:10).

When we ask for guidance, the Lord will direct us on the right path, leading us away from trouble.

Thro’ this world of toil and snares,
If I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.

(Truth)
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:14-15).

At times, it may seem like we are alone. No one seems to understand how we feel or what we are going through. However, there is one who knows all.

When my feeble life is o’er,
Time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o’er
To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.

(Truth)
And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you (Isaiah 46:4).

We need not worry about being abandoned in old age. God reminded His people that He was God. He had not changed. He had watched over them in the beginning. He would watch over them until the end. He created them. He was strong enough to carry them. The Lord hasn’t changed. He will see us to the end of our journey. What a comforting thought!

After learning more about this hymn, I hope it has become dear to you. I can’t say it’s one of my favorites, but I can say it has ministered to me this summer.

Until next time…

Learn More

Luke Powell, Just a Closer Walk with Thee
Horace Clarence Boyer, How Sweet the Sound
Kenneth Morris – Hymnology Archive

Glory to His Name

/ Gail Johnson / 13 Comments

Good morning, friend! How is your spring/summer so far? Mine has been productive. Woo hoo! I’ve enjoyed several books. Loving this balmy weather we’re having.

I wanted to share the hymn I’ve been hearing in my head this week. 😊 Have you heard it? I’ll leave a link below. Give it a listen! And a read!

I don’t know about you, but reading the Lord’s promise of salvation fills my heart with joy! I hope the scriptures I’ve shared give you the “joy jolt” you need for the coming week.

(A sample of hymnals I have collected while plundering the book section in antique stores. Yes, it’s a disease. I have to rescue them.)

Glory to His Name

Down at the cross where my Savior died,
Down where for cleansing from sin I cried,
There to my heart was the blood applied;
Glory to His name.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin (1 John 1:7).

Glory to His name,
Glory to His name;
There to my heart was the blood applied
Glory to His name.

I am so wondrously saved from sin,
Jesus so sweetly abides within;
There at the cross where He took me in;
Glory to His name.

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God (1 Peter 18-21).

O precious fountain that saves from sin,
I am so glad I have entered in;
There Jesus saves me and keeps me clean,
Glory to His name.

In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness (Zechariah 13:1).

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by who also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:1).

Come to this fountain so rich and sweet,
Cast thy poor soul at the Saviour’s feet;
Plunge in today, and be made complete;
Glory to His name.

Author: Elisha A. Hoffman, 1839-1929
Composer: John H. Stockton, 1813-1877
Public Domain

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Glory to His Name link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DDVShVvkJs

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

/ Gail Johnson / 8 Comments

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrew 12:1-2 (KJV)

In John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, our hero, Christian, seeks to rid himself of his burden of sin. Though Worldly Wiseman’s suggestions are wrong, his statements about the effects of a burden are true.

Worldly Wiseman: “I would urge you then, with all speed, to get rid of your burden; for your mind will not be at rest till then.”

Christian: “That is just what I seek to do. But there is no man in our land who can take it from me.” Pilgrim’s Progress Simplified Reading Series

When we accumulate troubles amid our daily routines, we may overlook their impact on our hearts and minds. But the longer we carry the weight, the more we feel the effects. In times like these, it is easy to become burdened with the cares of this life. But there is a solution: prayer.

Prayer is crucial in the lives of God’s people. I know I said it in my last devotional, but it is worth repeating. If our minds are to be at rest, we must unburden ourselves in prayer. For no man can soothe a troubled soul like Jesus!

If the cares of this life are weighing down your heart and mind, I hope you will take time to turn off the screen, shut out the noise, and get away with the Lord. I promise you will come away with a different mindset.

I’ll see you back here in a few weeks. Meanwhile, let’s pray for each other.

The Song

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.

Thro’ death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O’er us sin no more hath dominion:
For more than conqu’rors we are!

His Word shall not fail you: He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well;
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

Helen Howarth Lemmel Public Domain

If you’d like to learn more about Helen Lemmel and Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, visit Luke Powell’s YouTube channel here.