Hymn of the Day (or Hymn of the Year) I Asked the Lord by John Newton

I Asked the Lord

I asked the Lord that I might grow
In faith and love and every grace
Might more of His salvation know
And seek more earnestly His face

Twas He who taught me thus to pray
And He I trust has answered prayer
But it has been in such a way
As almost drove me to despair

I hoped that in some favored hour
At once He'd answer my request
And by His love's constraining power
Subdue my sins and give me rest

Instead of this He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart
And let the angry powers of Hell
Assault my soul in every part

Yea more with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Cast out my feelings, laid me low

Lord why is this, I trembling cried
Wilt Thou pursue thy worm to death?
"Tis in this way" The Lord replied
"I answer prayer for grace and faith"

“These inward trials I employ
From self and pride to set thee free
And break thy schemes of earthly joy
That thou mayest seek thy all in me,
That thou mayest seek thy all in me.”

I think I have posted this hymn three or four times since June. I know the holidays are supposed to be a time of celebration, but as I look around (and in the mirror) I see a lot of strugglers.

I run to a lot of places when I struggle. The only safe one I have ever found is in the arms of Christ. I am grateful for his faithfulness. I am grateful for his patience. I am thankful to know that my Redeemer lives and is even now interceding for me.

Worldview Matters

As I was driving to school I heard an advertisement for the importance of geography on the sports radio station. The narrator explained that most high schoolers aren’t able to find Japan, India, or the Pacific Ocean on a map.

After a few seconds of geographical phariseeism, I began to wonder why people are so apathetic about so many aspects of life. This post certainly isn’t an exhaustive answer to that question, but I do think it sheds some light on the current apathy.

We live in a culture where the dominant idea of human existence is rooted in the belief that we are here by accident. We are the result of a chance happening that set off a chain of events where the strong have repeatedly eliminated the weak. Is it any wonder that they don’t think geography matters? If that worldview is true there really isn’t any reason to look at a map (or anything else) unless there is some immediate personal gain to be achieved. The current apathy has many roots, but I believe one of the deepest is the evolutionary worldview.

It is no coincidence that when the sports program came back on the air callers were flooding the lines to complain about their 6-6 football season (sorry, Clay). What matters in a culture grounded in survival of the fittest? Winning!

The biblical view of humanity is completely different. We are not accidents (Psalm 139). We were created by God for his glory (Colossians 1). He cares for all nations (Psalm 72:17). Not only do we matter, but he even knows when a single hair falls from our heads (Luke 12:7).

Trying to teach kids the importance of geography without the importance of life is futile. It is no coincidence that apathy dominates the current national climate. The solution to the problem is not better geography teachers, but a new worldview.