More and more I appreciate my hymnal as a source book for prayer.
I've discovered that many of the hymns I love to sing also express the feelings inside my heart. In this way our hymnody gives voice to the thoughts we want to express to our loving and listening God in prayer. Here is a favorite (from the 1941 "Red" hymnal):
Let me be Thine forever
Thou faithful God and Lord
Let me forsake Thee never
Nor wander from Thy Word
Lord, do not let me waver
But give me steadfastness
And for such grace forever
Thy Holy Name I'll bless.
The Lutheran Hymnal - #334, verse 1
