Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada with a hymn that, well, is very much like a prayer.
May the Mind of Christ my Savior
live in me from day to day
By His love and power controlling
all I do and say.
I’ll tell you why this classic hymn is a favorite of mine. Years ago when I memorized the words to all six stanzas, I realized that—oh my goodness—I just memorized a beautiful prayer. Philippians chapter 2, verse 5 says, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” and this hymn provided the perfect, most fitting words in prayer, a prayer that I might have the mind of Christ, my Savior. Not long after I memorized the words to this hymn, I had to be in bed for several months with pressure sores. Lying in bed all day for me paralyzed was so hard, and I was so tempted to just let go and be depressed. But I didn’t want to go down that dark, grim path so I knew I had to stay focused. And what better way to get your focus than to recite things you know to be true: things you believed and held fast to when days were better, brighter, and easier. So lying in bed I immediately recalled this hymn, and so, day after day, as I remained bedridden, I would pray the words of each stanza:
“May the mind of Christ my Savior Live in me from day to day, By His love and pow’r controlling All I do and say. May the Word of Christ dwell richly In my heart from hour to hour, So that all may see I triumph Only through His pow’r. May the peace of Christ my Savior Rule my life in everything, That I may be calm to comfort Sick and sorrowing. May the love of Jesus fill me, As the waters fill the sea; Him exalting, self abasing, This is victory. May I run the race before me, Strong and brave to face the foe, Looking only unto Jesus As I onward go. May His beauty rest upon me As I seek the lost to win, And may they forget the channel, Seeing only Him.”
What a powerful prayer that was, and I offered it up to the Lord, often! And I still do, especially when my emotions would try to drag me down. And as soon as I would recite these wonderful words before the Lord—asking for the peace of Christ, and the love of Jesus and so much more … Well, when I finally was able to get it together emotionally and when I was bedridden and able to sit back up in my wheelchair, my soul was all the stronger for it. That experience taught me that the classic hymns with their timeless words provide a whole lexicon of insights into prayer; the words enrich your experience of prayer!
And I’d like you to join me in memorizing the words of hymns. Actually, I’d like to get children doing the same. And it’s why I’m offering you a collection of 12 classic hymns on my CD called “Hymns for a Kid’s Heart.” It’s free and you can get your copy by simply visiting my radio page today at joniandfriends.org. Let’s get memorizing, friends. Put on the CD in your car and maybe get your kids to sing along with the children and me. Again, it’s called “Hymns for a Kid’s Heart,” it’s free, and it’s for you at joniandfriends.org.
© Joni and Friends, 2013 │ Compliments of Joni and Friends
PO Box 3333 Agoura Hills, CA 91376 │