PRAYER

Prayer is the very life-breath of true Christianity. ---- J. C. Ryle

On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us (Psalm 62:7-8).

Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full (John 16:23-24).

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: Come, my Soul, Thy Suit Prepare.(John Newton, 1779.)

EVANGELIZE

You cannot evangelize in a doctrinal vacuum (Anonymous).

For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But how are they to call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?" So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ (Romans 10:13-17).

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle to the glory of God:  Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me (Augustus M. Toplady, 1776).

HEAVEN

Heaven is not a conditional reward, but a consummated relationship. ---- John Blanchard

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself with be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away (Revelation 21:1-4).

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: Majestic Sweetness Sits Enthroned(Samuel Stennett, 1787).

JOY

Joy is the flag that is flown from the citadel of the heart when the King is in residence. ---- Anonymous

The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; You hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I have set the LORD always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. There my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:5-6, 8-9, 11).

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: All People That on Earth Do Dwell(Psalm 100). -- William Kethe, 1561.

UNTIL

The whole life of man until he is converted to Christ is a ruinous labyrinth of wanderings. --- John Calvin

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience ---- among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of he body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath....  But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses , made us alive together with Christ...for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:1- 5, 10).

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: Grace! 'Tis a Charming Sound (Philip Doddridge, 1755).  

REPENTANCE

We see "gospel repentance" in all those who, made sore by the sting of sin but aroused and refreshed by trust in God's mercy, have turned to the Lord. -- John Calvin

For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what earnestness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! (I Corinthians 7:10-11).  

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle to the glory of God: O Thou That Hear'st When Sinners Cry (From Psalm 51. Isaac Watts, 1719).

GRATITUDE

Gratitude to God makes even a temporal blessing a taste of heaven -- William Romaine

Those blessings are sweetest that are won with prayers and worn with thanks. -- Thomas Goodwin

O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon His name: make known His deeds among the people. Remember His marvelous works that He has done; His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth...for He has remembered His holy promise.... (Psalm 105:1,5)

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: Give Thanks unto the Lord, Jehovah. -- From Psalm 118, ca 1990.