This is hymn 43 of the Open Heavens daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
HYMN 43: LEAD US HEAVENLY FATHER, LEAD US
1. Lead Us, Heavenly Father, Lead Us
O’er The World’s Tempestuous Sea;
Guard Us, Guide Us, Keep Us, Feed Us,
For We Have No Help But Thee,
Yet Possessing Every Blessing
If Our God Our Father Be.
2. Saviour, Breathe Forgiveness O’er Us;
All Our Weakness Thou Dost Know;
Thou Didst Tread This Earth Before Us,
Thou Didst Feel Its Keenest Woe;
Lone And Dreary, Faint And Weary,
Through The Desert Thou Didst Go.
3. Spirit Of Our God, Descending,
Fill Our Hearts With Heavenly Joy,
Love With Every Passion Blending,
Pleasure That Can Never Cloy;
Thus Provided, Pardoned, Guided,
Nothing Can Our Peace Destroy.
LEAD US HEAVENLY FATHER, LEAD US HYMN COMMENTARY
Beloved in Christ, the Christian life is a journey, a pilgrimage from grace to glory. This hymn, “Lead Us, Heavenly Father, Lead Us,” is the perfect prayer-song for the traveler. It beautifully addresses each person of the Trinity, acknowledging the unique role of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in guiding, forgiving, and filling us on our way. It is a comprehensive plea for divine help from start to finish.
Why Sing This Hymn
We sing this hymn to entrust our entire journey—past, present, and future—into the hands of God. It is a prayer for guidance, protection, forgiveness, and spiritual joy, recognizing that every need of the pilgrim is met by the specific ministry of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
1. It is a Prayer to the Father for Sovereign Care (Verse 1)
The hymn begins by acknowledging our vulnerability and God’s sovereignty. We are on a “world’s tempestuous sea,” a place of danger and uncertainty. Our cry is to the “Heavenly Father” for comprehensive care: to “Lead Us… Guard Us, Guide Us, Keep Us, Feed Us.” This covers direction, protection, instruction, preservation, and sustenance. The confession “we have no help but Thee”is not a cry of despair, but of faith—it is the realization that true and sufficient help is found in Him alone. The verse concludes with a stunning truth: despite our felt need, we are already rich, for in possessing God as our Father, we possess “every blessing” (Ephesians 1:3).
2. It is a Prayer to the Saviour for Empathetic Forgiveness (Verse 2)
Turning to Jesus, the prayer focuses on our past and present frailty. We ask the “Saviour” to “breathe forgiveness o’er us,” a gentle, pervasive image of cleansing grace. Our confidence in His forgiveness is rooted in His profound empathy: “All our weakness Thou dost know.” He is not a distant judge but a fellow traveler who “didst tread this earth before us” and felt its “keenest woe.” He knows the “lone and dreary, faint and weary” path of the desert because He walked it perfectly. Because He understands, we can boldly ask for His ongoing mercy and grace in our time of need (Hebrews 4:15-16).
3. It is a Prayer to the Spirit for Internal Joy (Verse 3)
Finally, we pray to the “Spirit of our God” for our internal transformation and future hope. We ask Him to fill us not with temporary happiness, but with “heavenly joy”—a deep, spiritual delight that transcends circumstances. This joy is the result of His “love with every passion blending,”sanctifying our affections, and giving “pleasure that can never cloy”—satisfaction that never fades or disappoints. The hymn ends by summarizing the work of the Trinity: we are provided for by the Father, pardoned by the Son, and guided by the Spirit. Therefore, “nothing can our peace destroy.” Our security is complete.
A Word for Your Spirit Today
Are you feeling lost on a tempestuous sea? Are you burdened by weakness and failure? Does your heart lack true, lasting joy?
Let this hymn be your prayer today. Address the Heavenly Father and ask Him to take the helm and provide. Go to your empathetic Saviour, confess your weakness, and receive His forgiving, understanding grace. Then, invite the Holy Spirit to descend and flood your heart with the joy and love that only He can give.
You are not a wanderer; you are a pilgrim with a Triune Guide. You have been provided for, pardoned, and are being guided. Nothing in this world can ultimately destroy the peace of a soul entrusted to such a God. Walk on in confidence.
Lead us, O Triune God, from the desert to our eternal home.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
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