Hymns With A Message: MOMENT BY MOMENT

Sunday, May 7, 2023

MOMENT BY MOMENT

For over 16 years I have written weekly hymn blogs, nearly 800 of them. But while I have shared information about them, I have never shared which were my personal favorites. So I began, in 2023, a new feature in which, once a month, I share one of my favorites and why it has had an impact on my life.

The older I become, the more I feel the need to walk moment by moment in the presence of the Lord. As the burdens grow greater and our strength decreases, it is vital to recognize that He is with us always and everywhere, each moment of the day. There is no event in our lives that He is not aware of and in control of.

Think of some of the important moments you have experienced:

1. The moment you knew you needed a Savior;

2. The moment you first experienced the grace of God;

3. The moment you found the strength to keep going;

4. The moment you gained the courage to stand up for Christ;

5. The moment you discovered the answer in God's Word.

This hymn is so true and probably one that we need to sing daily as a reminder of His presence, love and concern, each moment of our lives.

Ira Sankey shared an interesting story about this hymn. "While I was attending the World's Fair in Chicago, Henry Varley, a lay preacher from London, said to Major Daniel W. Whittle: "I do not like the hymn 'I Need Thee Every Hour' very well, because I need Him every moment of the day. Soon after Major Whittle wrote this sweet hymn …n[He] brought the hymn to me in manuscript a little later, saying that he would give me the copyright of both the words and music if I would print for him five hundred copies on fine paper, for distributing among his friends. His daughter, May Whittle, who later became the wife of Will R. Moody, composed the music. I did as Mr. Whittle wished; and I sent the hymn to England, where it was copyrighted on the same day as at Washington. In England the hymn became very popular.

Falling into the hands of the well-known Rev. Andrew Murray, of South Africa, then visiting London, he adopted it as his favorite hymn. A year later Mr. Murray visited Northfield, Massachusetts], and while holding a meeting for men in the church he remarked, "If Sankey only knew a hymn which I found in London, and would sing it, he would find that it embraces my entire creed." I was very anxious to know what hymn it was, and when he had recited it I said to him: "Doctor, that hymn was written within five hundred yards of where we are standing." For years Dr. Murray had his wife sing this hymn in nearly all his meetings. It also became a great favorite in South Africa during the war."

While the hymn speaks of moments that have been important to us, we must also remember that this is a moment that matters to others. It is a moment when thousands are dying without the Lord. A moment when God's love, peace and strength desperately need to be felt by multitudes. A moment when the still small voice of the Jesus is speaking to someone's heart. A moment when we today share His love with others so that the truth of this hymn can become their testimony.

But there is another moment when, in a moment our chance to reach the lost for Jesus will end. "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." I Corinthians 15:52. Hopefully that moment will come soon.

Today may we be reminded that in this moment you are His and are held in His love.

1. Dying with Jesus, by death reckoned mine;

Living with Jesus, a new life divine;

Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine,

Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.

Moment by moment I'm kept in His love;

Moment by moment I've life from above;

Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine;

Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.

2. Never a trial that He is not there,

Never a burden that He doth not bear,

Never a sorrow that He doth not share,