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Family Hymn of the Month

This month, we’re sharing two hymns from The Sing! Hymnal that teach us to ask God to renew our hearts and bring every care to Him in prayer.

Breathe on Me What a Friend
The Getty family gathered together for Family Hymn of the Month

Breathe on Me, Breath of God

Written by Edwin Hatch The Sing! Hymnal #870

Lyric Video

Listen Now The Sing! Hymnal Song Resources

Scripture

“By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.”

1 John 4:13, ESV

Lyrics
Verse 1 Breathe on me, Breath of God;
fill me with life anew,
that I may love what Thou dost love,
and do what Thou wouldst do Verse 2 Breathe on me, Breath of God,
until my heart is pure,
until with Thee I will one will,
to do and to endure Verse 3 Breathe on me, Breath of God,
till I am wholly Thine,
until this earthly part of me
glows with Thy fire divine Verse 4 Breathe on me, Breath of God,
so shall I never die,
but live with Thee the perfect life
of Thine eternity

Story Behind the Song

I sang this hymn growing up in Northern Ireland. I remember a few years ago at the Sing! Conference, we used it as our morning prayer before one of the sessions.

It was written by Edwin Hatch in 1878. He was a scholar, theologian, and lover of music and the arts. This is just a simple, personal prayer that he wrote, and it took several years to find its way into a hymnal. It is perhaps the thing that he is remembered for most: this very simple, personal, direct prayer that the Holy Spirit would move deeply within each of us.

Something to Think About

“Breathe on Me, Breath of God” carries in it this earnest prayer for a closeness to the Lord as close as a breath, that from that place there might be a reshaping of our lives each day around the Lord’s purposes, around His promises, and also around His purity; that we find in Him the power and strength and grace for each day.

Psalm 28 says, “Blessed be the Lord, for He has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him.”

I hope that you can use this beautiful hymn, “Breathe on Me, Breath of God,” as a prayer in your devotion time today.

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Written by Joseph Scriven The Sing! Hymnal #267

Lyric Video

Listen Now The Sing! Hymnal Resources

Bible Memory Verses

‘Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.’

— 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18

Lyrics
Verse 1 What a Friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
ev'rything to God in prayer
Oh, what peace we often forfeit;
oh, what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
ev'rything to God in prayer Verse 2 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 ev'ry weakness
take it to the Lord in prayer Verse 3 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

Story Behind the Song

Joseph Scriven memorial for What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Joseph Scriven was born in 1819 in Banbridge, Northern Ireland. As a young adult, he became an immigrant in Canada. He wrote a poem in 1855 called “Pray Without Ceasing” for his mother, who was ill. He could not get home to her, and so penned these words to comfort her. They became this wonderful hymn on prayer.

Charles Crozat Converse set it to music in 1868.

There is a monument to Scriven in Port Hope, Canada, where he ministered to impoverished people for decades. His life was marked by great suffering: the loss of loved ones, illness, and physical need. This hymn is a cry of deep need and a shout of great hope. Closeness to the Lord in prayer was at the heart of his life story.

Something to Think About

When I was eight years old, I started a new school. I had begun to make some friends, and all seemed good. But one day, a new friend falsely thought I was taking one of her friends away from her. She scolded me and walked away with the few other friends I had. I can remember standing in the middle of the playground, very alone and just not knowing what to do.

Maybe you have a story like that. It can happen at any age!

We know the lyric in verse three of this hymn:

“Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer.”

The Lord has designed us to be in closest friendship with Him. Sometimes we don’t really understand this until we are struggling. But this is the friendship that is rock solid and unchanging, and we are called to come to Him in prayer always and with everything.

“Pray without ceasing.”
1 Thessalonians 5

All of life, little or great, is seen and cared over by the Lord as we pray through each day. From this closeness, we learn how to be better friends with each other.

I had this stanza of a poem pinned on my wall when I was a student, and it was always a good reminder:

“Restraining prayer, we cease to fight;
Prayer makes the Christian’s armor bright;
And Satan trembles when he sees
The weakest saint upon his knees.”

We hope the singing of this prayer encourages each of us to pray more.

Prayer

Father in heaven, thank You for the gift it is to come before You in prayer anytime, anywhere, and about all things. May we be quick to pray, slow to worry, and humble before You, our Lord and greatest friend. Amen.

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