HYMNS THAT SHAPE MY LIFE

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.

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer.


Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he'll take and shield thee;
thou wilt find a solace there.

Blessed Savior,
Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear

May we ever, Lord, be bringing
all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded
there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship
will be our sweet portion there.
http://www.hymns.me.uk/what-a-friend-we-have-in-jesus-favorite-hymn.htm


Words: Jo­seph M. Scriv­en, 1855. Scriv­en wrote this hymn to com­fort his mo­ther, who was across the sea from him in Ire­land. It was orig­in­al­ly pub­lished anon­y­mous­ly, and Scriv­en did not re­ceive full cred­it for al­most 30 years.


Music: Erie, Charles C. Con­verse, 1868 (MI­DI, score). In World War I, the tune was paired with the words to “When This Bloody War is Over.”
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/w/a/f/wafwhij.htm



There was a lot wrong about my childhood, but taking us to church and teaching us to love Jesus was one of the very right and best things my parents did, with tons of help from my grandparents.
 
Daily, I am comforted by lines of Bible verses or lyrics of old hymns that I learned as a child. I am forever thankful for the instilling of God's words and the poetry of the old saints. Osmosis, repetition, rote learning... It all worked.