Song of the Righteous; A prayer unto Me- Hymn 223

I've been thinking about an idea for about a week now. And I've decided enough thinking! Time to act. Even if I'm the only one who comments; it's like a church lesson, often times it's the teacher that needs to hear it most. But I'd like to encourage everyone to comment, we can learn a lot from each other.

So my idea was that I would pick a church Hymn. I love the Hymns. I once made it a goal to memorize my 25 most favorite hymns, all the verses. And I did. And then I picked 25 more. And 25 more. And then I decided to memorize the first and last verses of 25 more. I love it. It's a work in progress, but I have seen the blessings of it numerous times over.

Often times I've found myself in a scary situation; driving in a snow storm, riding in a taxi with my baby in anaphylactic shock, driving home late and I'm tired. Other times I've been in need of an answer to a prayer, a reminder that I'm loved or a way to calm a sad child. At those times (and countless others) I've been able to recall the beautiful words of the hymns. And I can testify that the song of the righteous is indeed a prayer. One that gives strength and delivers peace.

I LOVE the hymns. If you look on lds.org and search hymns you'll find that there are several references to blessings and power of hymns. The following was in the Liahona and the Ensign in 2007.

The Nourishing Power of Hymns by Elder Jay E. Jensen Of the Seventy

Last Sunday, as I was thinking about our Julie A. and Brigham and the rest of the family, I was feeling very far away from the situation. Boston-Utah. I felt completely helpless. I knew my prayers would be heard and felt, but how could my prayers become answers without physically being able to serve them, in person.

The situation was weighing heavily on my mind as I went to Sacrament meeting.

And then as our closing hymn, we sang 223 Have I Done any Good.

The words in the second verse resonated in my mind and heart all afternoon. "there are chances for work all around just now, opportunities right in our way. Do not let them pass by, saying Sometime I'll try. But go and do something, TODAY."

I knew I could do something right then. And something we did, but not all on our own. I was amazed at the effect our prayers had, doors were opened hearts were made available and many were blessed by serving. Even serving someone they didn't know directly. I was once again reminded that we are the serving hands of the Lord here on earth, when our hearts are able and willing, mountains can be moved.

The scriptures that go along with the hymn are

James 1:22, 27

27 Pure ^areligion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To ^bvisit the ^cfatherless and ^dwidows in their ^eaffliction, and to keep himself ^funspotted from ^gthe ^hworld.

22 But be ye ^adoers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Alma9:28

Therefore, prepare ye the way of the Lord, for the time is at hand that all men shall reap a ^areward of their ^bworks, according to that which they have been—if they have been righteous they shall ^creap the salvation of their souls, according to the power and deliverance of Jesus Christ;

Please share your thoughts on the hymns and then pray to have your heart and mind open to the opportunities that are all around just now.