Abide With Me

Life has not ceased to bring its share of busy times, of worry, uncertainty for the future, nor to be filled with the little blessings, the glimpses of His love and care.

Just the other evening, as I sat at the piano, playing and singing the different songs that came to mind, this song came to my heart, and the words struck a chord within me, and my heart echoed the prayer of this song, “O LORD, abide with me!”

I want to always keep this foremost in my mind- when the day gets busy, when I am working, when my heart is tempted to feel anxious- the prayer and the desire for Him to abide with me, for me to sense His presence in a real and living way. It is hard to worry, hard to doubt when we feel that He is truly with us.

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word,
But as Thou dwell’st with Thy disciples, Lord,
Familiar, condescending, patient, free.
Come not to sojourn, but abide with me.
I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.
Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.