I have prayed this hymn by singing too many times to count. Most especially for someone very dear to me, but sometimes for others as well. There are times that I don't know how to pray. I have leaned many times into Romans 8, all over, every verse, but in this instance I am thinking of Romans 8:26-27, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God."
How reassuring. I have often said these words, "I have no idea." So often, in fact, that I have commented on more than one occasion that perhaps that should be my epitaph. As I think I've said before, if I don't know, I truly don't have a clue, but when I do, I have incredible clarity. Living in between those places is hard. But there are some things I always know, and some things I always pray. This hymn is one of them. I hope you know the Love of GOD. Remember His love never fails. Don't ever give up praying for your people. Even when you don't know what to pray. Just sing. GOD hears, and He knows.
Paul says it best in Ephesians 1, "I keep asking that the GOD of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And GOD placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way."
If you are listening, I recorded this as a prayer on July 14, 2023. GOD knows why. There is nothing more powerful than the LOVE OF GOD.
1 The love of God is greater far
than tongue or pen can ever tell;
it goes beyond the highest star,
and reaches to the lowest hell.
The wand'ring child is reconciled
by God's beloved Son.
The aching soul again made whole,
and priceless pardon won.
Refrain:
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
the saints’ and angels’ song.
2 When ancient time shall pass away,
and human thrones and kingdoms fall;
when those who here refuse to pray
on rocks and hills and mountains call;
God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
all measureless and strong;
grace will resound the whole earth round—
the saints’ and angels’ song. [Refrain]
3 Could we with ink the ocean fill,
and were the skies of parchment made;
were ev’ry stalk on earth a quill,
and ev’ryone a scribe by trade;
to write the love of God above
would drain the ocean dry;
nor could the scroll contain the whole,
though stretched from sky to sky.
