HELP

Religion should cover all experience, finding expression in prayer or praise as the occasion may demand. We have a God for all seasons. Both in periods of suffering and trouble, and in times of joy, prayer and praise alike acknowledge that He is sufficient. -- J. Alec Motyer.

Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise If any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray....  The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and affective (James 5:13-14).

 A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle to the glory of God: Our  God, Our Help in Ages Past.

Psalm 90, Isaac Watts, 1719.

JOY

Joy ceases to be joy when it ceases to be "in the Lord".  -- J. Alec Motyer

I have set the LORD always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices: my flesh also shall rest in hope. Thou wilt show me the path of life; in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:8-11).

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God (Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts (Bernard of Clairvaux, ca. 1150)

GOD'S

God's sovereign love. The whole world is ordered and arranged to match and meet the needs of the people of God. --- J. Alec Motyer

And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way (Ephesians 1:22-23).

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:28 - 31a).

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: Though Troubles Assail Us (John Newton, 1779).

DEATH

Death is a blessing. Death is not so much something which happens to the Christian as something God works for him. ---- J. Alec Motyer

 

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed ---- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the  perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory" (I Corinthians 15:51-54).

 

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints (Psalm 116:15).

 

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle to the glory of God:When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder(James M. Black, 1856-1938).  

Wisdom

The wisdom that guides believers to heaven is found in God's answers to believing, undoubting prayer. ---- Alec Motyer.

 

Wisdom from God: Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. ...If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously unto all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting... (James 1:2-6a).

 

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God:

What a Friend We Have in Jesus. 

"What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God  in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer" (Joseph Scriven, ca. 1855).

 

Name

To "know the name of the LORD" is to lay aside every false opinion and to know Him from His Word, which is His true image, and next from His works. We must not imagine God from the fancy of man, but must comprehend Him as He declares Himself to be. ---- John Calvin

Therefore my people will know my name; therefore in that day they will know that it is I who foretold it. Yes, it is I. How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news...who say to Zion, "your God reigns!" (Isaiah 52:6-7).

"Isaiah envisages a day when faith will pass into sight and the Victor Himself will be seen face to face" (Alec Motyer).

....then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part, then I shall know even as I am fully known (I Corinthians 13:12).

No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will see Him. They will see His face, and HIs name will be on their foreheads(Revelation 22:3-4).

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: The God of Abraham Praise. 

 "The God of Abraham praise, who reigns enthroned above, Ancient of everlasting days and God of love. Jehovah! Great I AM! by earth and heaven confessed; I bow and bless the sacred name, for ever blest." Thomas Olivers, 1770

Providence

Life's trials are not unnatural barriers to our life with God, but are the appointed way forward to spiritual maturity. ---- Alec Motyer

....though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials, these have come so that your faith --- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire --- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed (I Peter 1:6b-7)

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: A Wonderful Savior is Jesus My Lord -- 

"A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord, he taketh my burden away; he holdeth me up, and I shall not be moved, he giveth me strength as my day (second stanza)."