“Amazing Grace”
– John Newton, 1779
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found; Was blind, but now I see.
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved; How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come; ‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me, His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be, As long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, And mortal life shall cease, I shall possess, within the veil, A life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, The sun forbear to shine; But God, who called me here below, Will be forever mine.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun, We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise Than when we first begun.
“How Great Thou Art”
– Carl Gustav Boberg, 1885
O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder Consider all the worlds thy hands have made, I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed: (Refrain) Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee: How great thou art! How great thou art! Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee: How great thou art! How great thou art!
When through the woods and forest glades I wander And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees, When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze: (Refrain)
And when I think that God, his Son not sparing, Sent him to die, I scarce can take it in, That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin. (Refrain)
When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart! Then I shall bow in humble adoration, And there proclaim, My God, how great thou art!
– Carl Gustav Boberg, – Matt Redman and Jonas Myrin, 20111885
Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul, worship His holy Name. Sing like never before, O my soul. I’ll worship Your holy Name.
The sun comes up, it’s a new day dawning; It’s time to sing Your song again. Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me, Let me be singing when the evening comes.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul, worship His holy Name. Sing like never before, O my soul. I’ll worship Your holy Name.
You’re rich in love and You’re slow to anger, Your Name is great and Your heart is kind; For all Your goodness I will keep on singing, Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul, worship His holy Name. Sing like never before, O my soul. I’ll worship Your holy Name.
And on that day when my strength is failing, The end draws near and my time has come; Still my soul sings Your praise unending, Ten thousand years and then forevermore.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul, worship His holy Name. Sing like never before, O my soul. I’ll worship Your holy Name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul, worship His holy Name. Sing like never before, O my soul. I’ll worship Your holy Name.
Keith Getty and Stuart Townend, 2001
Verse 1
In Christ alone my hope is found He is my Light, my Strength, my Song This Cornerstone, this Solid Ground Firm through the fiercest drought and storm What heights of love, what depths of peace When fears are stilled, when strivings cease My Comforter, my All in All Here in the love of Christ I stand
Verse 2
In Christ alone, Who took on flesh Fullness of God in helpless Babe This Gift of love and righteousness Scorned by the ones He came to save ‘Til on that cross as Jesus died The wrath of God was satisfied For every sin on Him was laid Here in the death of Christ I live
Verse 3
There in the ground His body lay Light of the world by darkness slain Then bursting forth in glorious day Up from the grave He rose again And as He stands in victory Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me For I am His and He is mine Bought with the precious blood of Christ
Verse 4
No guilt in life, no fear in death This is the power of Christ in me From life’s first cry to final breath Jesus commands my destiny No power of hell, no scheme of man Can ever pluck me from His hand ‘Til He returns or calls me home Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.
Darlene Zschech, 1993
Verse 1
My Jesus, my Savior Lord there is none like You All of my days, I want to praise
The wonders of Your mighty love My Comfort, my Shelter Tower of Refuge and Strength Let every breath, all that I am Never cease to worship You
Chorus
Shout to the Lord All the earth let us sing Power and majesty Praise to the King Mountains bow down And the sea will roar At the sound of Your Name I sing for joy at the work of Your hands Forever I’ll love You, forever I’ll stand Nothing compares to The promise I have in You.
Verse 2
My Jesus, my Savior Lord there is none like You All of my days, I want to praise The wonders of Your mighty love My Comfort, my Shelter Tower of Refuge and Strength Let every breath, all that I am Never cease to worship You
Chorus
Shout to the Lord All the earth let us sing Power and majesty Praise to the King Mountains bow down And the sea will roar At the sound of Your Name I sing for joy at the work of Your hands Forever I’ll love You, forever I’ll stand Nothing compares to The promise I have in You.
“It Is Well with My Soul”
Horatio Spafford, 1873
Verse 1
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, with my soul. It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Verse 2
Though Satan should buffet, Though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ has regarded My helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul. It is well, with my soul, It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Verse 3
My sin, oh, the bliss Of this glorious thought! My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, And I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! It is well, with my soul, It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Verse 4
And Lord, haste the day When my faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll; The trump shall resound, And the Lord shall descend, Even so, it is well with my soul. It is well, with my soul, It is well, it is well, with my soul.
“What a Friend We Have in Jesus”
Joseph Scriven, 1855
What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer! Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer!
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged—Take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful, Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy-laden, Cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge—Take it to the Lord in prayer. Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer! In His arms He’ll take and shield thee, Thou wilt find a solace there.
Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
May we ever, Lord, be bringing All to Thee in earnest prayer. Soon in glory bright, unclouded, There will be no need for prayer—Rapture, praise, and endless worship Will be our sweet portion there.
“Blessed Assurance”
Fanny Crosby, 1873
1 Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine; Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood. This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long. This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long.
2 Perfect submission, perfect delight, Visions of rapture now burst on my sight; Angels descending, bring from above Echoes of mercy, whispers of love. This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long. This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long.
3 Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my Savior am happy and blest; Watching and waiting, looking above, Filled with His goodness, lost in His love. This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long. This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long.
Daniel Whittle (1883)
- I know not why God’s wondrous grace To me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love Redeemed me for His own.
Refrain: But “I know Whom I have believed, And am persuaded that He is able To keep that which I’ve committed Unto Him against that day.” - I know not how this saving faith To me He did impart, Nor how believing in His Word Wrought peace within my heart.
- I know not how the Spirit moves, Convincing men of sin, Revealing Jesus through the Word, Creating faith in Him.
- I know not what of good or ill May be reserved for me, Of weary ways or golden days, Before His face I see.
- I know not when my Lord may come, At night or noonday fair,
Nor if I walk the vale with Him, Or meet Him in the air.
Here is a list of 30 hymns that are universally cherished and sung by Christians worldwide, transcending race and culture:
- “Amazing Grace” – John Newton, 1779
- “How Great Thou Art” – Carl Gustav Boberg, 1885
- “Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty” – Reginald Heber, 1826
- “It Is Well with My Soul” – Horatio Spafford, 1873
- “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” – Thomas Chisholm, 1923
- “Blessed Assurance” – Fanny Crosby, 1873
- “Be Thou My Vision” – Traditional Irish hymn, 8th century
- “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” – Joseph Scriven, 1855
- “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” – Martin Luther, 1529
- “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” – Edward Perronet, 1779
- “Crown Him with Many Crowns” – Matthew Bridges, 1851
- “To God Be the Glory” – Fanny Crosby, 1875
- “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” – Robert Robinson, 1758
- “The Old Rugged Cross” – George Bennard, 1912
- “In Christ Alone” – Keith Getty and Stuart Townend, 2001
- “Jesus Paid It All” – Elvina Hall, 1865
- “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing” – Charles Wesley, 1739
- “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” – Isaac Watts, 1707
- “How Firm a Foundation” – John Rippon, 1787
- “Great Is the Lord” – Michael W. Smith and Deborah D. Smith, 1982
- “Shout to the Lord” – Darlene Zschech, 1993
- “Here I Am, Lord” – Dan Schutte, 1981
- “Because He Lives” – Bill and Gloria Gaither, 1971
- “He Lives” – Alfred H. Ackley, 1933
- “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” – Helen H. Lemmel, 1922
- “Just As I Am” – Charlotte Elliott, 1835
- “I Surrender All” – Judson W. Van DeVenter, 1896
- “Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling” – Will L. Thompson, 1880
- “Blessed Be Your Name” – Matt and Beth Redman, 2002
- “10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)” – Matt Redman and Jonas Myrin, 2011