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Five Old Songs I Never Want to Forget
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5 old songs I never want to forget
Spiritual Growth

Five Old Songs I Never Want to Forget

March 20, 2019
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Posted by Cindi

While looking for ways to change up my devotional time with God recently, I dusted off an old hymnal (that was published 40 years ago!) and sang aloud some of the old songs I remembered from growing up in church during the 1970s. These songs reminded me of some precious truths I rarely hear sung on the radio today.

Some brought comfort, some brought confidence, and some brought me closer to my Savior. See if any of these bring you back to your younger years. Or, if they’re new to you, you just might see why they still resonate with my heart today.

Here are just five old songs I never want to forget (along with some of their lyrics in italics) and why they are still important to all of us today.

  1. “A Mighty Fortress is our God” – a song of victory in spiritual battle. 

This old classic, written by Martin Luther, is based on Psalm 46 and speaks of the confidence we can have in God as our defense against Satan and his attempts to thwart us. Besides the majestic descriptions of God as a bulwark never failing and our helper… amid the flood, this hymn reminds us of the victory we have, through Christ (whom Luther calls the right Man on our side). 

Do you ever feel nearly crushed under spiritual attack? Do you tend to forget that you are on the winning side? Remember that you have a mighty fortress in Christ Jesus that is impenetrable by Satan and though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us.The battle is already won in Christ and this hymn reminds us of it in a powerful way. 

2. “And Can It Be That I Should Gain” – a reminder of immense grace. 

Although the refrain in this hymn has been repeated in the contemporary worship song “You Are My King” written by Billy James Foote, Charles Wesley was the first to pen the lyrics: Amazing love! How can it be That Thou my God, shouldst die for me? Besides the rich theology in this song about the atoning blood of Jesus, based on Romans 5:8, there is also the presence of joy as the lyrics describe God’s pursuit of our hearts. 

Do you ever feel your past precludes you from being wanted or used by God? Then meditate on these words: 

            He left His Father’s throne above, So free, so infinite His grace; 

            Emptied Himself of all but love, and bled for Adam’s helpless race.

            ‘Tis mercy all, immense and free; For O my God, it found out me.

This hymn is also a battle cry as the writer motivates us to follow wholeheartedly the Lord Jesus: My chains fell off, my heart was free; I rose, went forth and followed Thee.

3. “It is Well with My Soul” – a song of peace during heartache and loss.

The story behind Horatio Spafford’s writing of this hymn puts us into perspective when we think we’ve had it rough. The traumatic events in Spafford’s life – including the loss of his son at the age of 2, followed by his financial ruin as a result of the Great Chicago Fire in 1871 – came to a head when he received a telegraph from his wife who had been travelling on a ship ahead of him, with his family. His wife’s telegraph informed him that all four of his daughters had been killed when their ship sunk and his wife was one of the few survivors. Shortly after, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to write this famous hymn as his ship passed near where his daughters had died. 

Knowing that story makes his lyrics all the more powerful as he entrusted his life and circumstances to His Savior and sang: When peace like a river attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul. Can you, too, in whatever catastrophic circumstance comes your way, turn it into a testimony of the peace that transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:7) as Stafford did? What a testimony. And what a comfort to anyone who wants to know the Source of your peace. 

4. “Crown Him with Many Crowns” –  a reminder that Jesus reigns. 

Every Easter Sunday we sing about Christ conquering the grave and reigning as King. But the other 51 weeks of the year we tend to think that Satan is ruling this earth and we long for the day when Christ will have the victory. But this hymn is about “Jesus victorious!” not “Jesus, come rescue us!” The lyrics remind us that not one day hence, not just on Easter, but today, now, and forever Christ sits at the right hand of God the Father (Hebrews 12:2).  

Jesus said, after rising from the dead “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). Sing it, remember who is wearing the many crowns, and hail Him as thy matchless King thro’ all eternity.

5. “How Great Thou Art” – a song that emphasizes Him, not us.

In a day and age when we can so easily slip into a “me-perspective” and feel that we are the ones who are great, this old Swedish hymn, originally titled “O Store Gud” by Carl Boberg, gets the focus off of us and helps us consider all the worlds Thy hands have made. It forces our eyes onto the One whose power is displayed throughout creation, through what Christ did on the cross, and through the return of our Savior.” 

Some of the more contemporary worship songs today can focus on us, our feelings, our needs, and even our desires for Jesus to hold us close, but this song puts all the emphasis on the One who bled and died to take away my sin. It is an echo of Psalm 48:1: “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised.” 

Which of these old hymns still resonate with you today? And if I didn’t list one of your favorites, it just might show up in next week’s blog called “5 More Old Songs We Can’t Forget.”

March 20, 2019
8 Comments
Cindi
Cindi McMenamin is an award-winning author and national speaker who helps women find strength for the soul. She has nearly 35 years experience ministering to women and inspiring them to let God meet their emotional needs, grow stronger through their alone times, and pursue their dreams with boldness.
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8 Comments

on Five Old Songs I Never Want to Forget.
  1. Joyce Smith
    March 21, 2019 @ 1:21 am
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    Reply

    What a brilliant and inspired blog! Just this week I’m working on a piano arrangement of “It is Well With My Soul” to play for an Offertory. As I practice it I play the WORDS. The losses in my life this past year can’t even be compared with the tremendous loss that Mr. Spafford experienced, and yet he wrote lyrics that went down in Christian history! I’m so glad you reminded folks of the depth that those old Hymns hold.
    Looking forward to reading about five more old Hymns on your next blog. I have already shared your blog with several of my friends. Just brilliant!

    • Cindi
      March 21, 2019 @ 1:46 pm
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      Reply

      Thanks, Mom. Knew you’d love this one. 🙂

  2. Becky McAnally
    March 21, 2019 @ 1:03 pm
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    Reply

    I love the old hymns too. When my heart is too troubled for words, often I find the words of these old hymns seep into my spirit and bring healing, peace and strengthen my faith.

    • Cindi
      March 21, 2019 @ 1:45 pm
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      Reply

      Thanks, Becky, for your encouraging response.

  3. Florence Billett
    March 22, 2019 @ 2:49 am
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    Reply

    Hello Cindi,
    I’m new to reading your blog but I do want to comment about those older hymns have so much more healing in the words compared to many of the more modern ones. I was just sharing with a friend who is a member of a Baptist Church in PA, that I enjoyed visiting her Church because of their singing the older hymns.
    And the congregation is comprised of both younger, middle aged, and senior citizens.
    Thank you for your encouraging words about Jesus Christ being pre-eminent in your life!
    Another Believer in Christ,
    Florence Billett

    • Cindi
      March 24, 2019 @ 5:32 pm
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      Reply

      Thanks, Florence. Many of the contemporary worship songs sung in churches today are simply Scripture verses put to music, so their theology can be just as rich as the older hymns, which focused more on doctrine. But I do know what you mean as some of the contemporary songs today focus on our personal experience with Jesus, rather than a biblical perspective of what Jesus has done. God can use any and all of it to reach all the different generations He calls to Himself. Thank you for your thoughts.

  4. Sherry
    March 22, 2019 @ 2:17 pm
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    Reply

    I love it when our church sings an old hymn a Capella. It takes away every distraction and I find myself closing my eyes just to hear the sweetness of every note. At times I don’t even sing, I just listen. Tears fill my eyes as I listen to some of the “silver” saints sing. Fills my heart to bursting. Great blog!

    • Cindi
      March 24, 2019 @ 5:28 pm
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      Reply

      Thank you, Sherry. And thanks for sharing how these old songs that we call hymns can still touch us today

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