Hymns that Shape Our Lives: Holy Spirit, Hear Us
Voices from the Past
Words written by: William H. Parker, 1880.
Music written by: Goethe, anonymous
By Gary Piper
Unless otherwise specified all scripture quote taken from the New English Translation of the Bible. For more information, a free download of the NET Bible or to purchase a hardcopy please go to www.bible.org.
Introduction:
Have you ever stopped to think about what hymns really are? Oh, sure they’re religious songs that sing about Jesus, God, the Holy Spirit, the church, salvation, faith, love, heaven, and many more related topics. But hymns are more than that they are stories, stories told by the writer’s of how God has touched their lives. Hymns are legacies left behind to assist us as we feel our way along the dusty road of life to provide us with reassurance that the writer’s story can be ours.
For me a hymnal is in many ways similar to the Old Testament Book of Psalms. Often we sing the words that make up the hymn without really thinking about how the inspiration behind the words can have a positive impact upon our lives. In my own life there have been times when I not sung a hymn because I found myself unable to follow through on what I was telling the Lord. It’s amazing to me how the spirit in which a hymn as been written many years ago can still come alive in me.
My intention is to take some of hymns that have impacted my life and explore why they have become pivotal experiences when I (attempt) to sing them. It is my prayerful hope that as you read of how they impact my life they will have an impact upon your life as well and in the future when you find yourself singing them they will be more than just a hymn.
William H. Parker
Head of an insurance company belonged to the Chelsea Street Baptist Church in Nottingham.
Born: March 4, 1845, Basford, Nottingham, England.
Died: December 2, 1929, Basford, Nottingham, England.
