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This is hymn 64 of the Open Heavens daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

HYMN 64: WHEN UPON LIFE’S BILLOWS YOU ARE TEMPEST TOSSED

1 When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Chorus:

Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

2 Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, ev’ry doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.

3 When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings, money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

4 So, amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

WHEN UPON LIFE’S BILLOWS YOU ARE TEMPEST TOSSED HYMN COMMENTARY

Beloved in Christ, this beloved and practical hymn, “Count Your Blessings,” offers a God-given strategy for spiritual and emotional renewal. It addresses us not in times of ease, but in the midst of life’s storms—when we are “tempest tossed,” discouraged, and burdened. It prescribes a simple, yet profoundly powerful, act of will: the conscious, deliberate practice of gratitude. This hymn is a call to shift our focus from our problems to God’s provisions, transforming our perspective and renewing our joy.

Why Sing This Hymn

We sing this hymn to combat discouragement, anxiety, and envy by actively rehearsing the goodness of God. It is a hymn of spiritual discipline, teaching us that thankfulness is not a passive feeling but an active choice that changes our hearts and minds. It redirects our gaze from what we lack to what we have been given by grace.

1. It is a Hymn for the Storm-Tossed Soul (Verse 1)
The hymn begins where we often find ourselves: in the turbulent waves of life’s troubles, feeling that “all is lost.” In that moment of despair, the instruction is counter-intuitive: don’t first catalogue your problems; catalogue your blessings. The command is specific: “name them one by one.” This intentional, itemized recollection forces the mind away from the overwhelming storm and onto the concrete evidences of God’s faithfulness. The promised result is a holy surprise: “And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.” We are often blind to our blessings until we deliberately look for them.

2. It is a Hymn for the Burdened Heart (Verse 2)
This verse speaks to the weary weight of daily cares and the specific “cross” of difficulty we are called to bear. The prescription is the same: count your blessings. The promise is immediate and powerful: “every doubt will fly.” The act of thanksgiving displaces the spirit of fear and uncertainty. The natural outcome is a change in our very disposition: “And you will be singing as the days go by.” Gratitude turns our lament into a song. It is impossible to truly count blessings and remain in a state of despair.

3. It is a Hymn for the Envious Eye (Verse 3)
The temptation to compare—to look at “others with their lands and gold”—is a potent source of discontent. The hymn redirects our comparison. We are to compare our situation not with others, but with God’s promises. We have “His wealth untold”—spiritual riches in Christ (Ephesians 1:3) and an eternal inheritance. The blessings we count include realities “money cannot buy”: our coming heavenly “reward” and our eternal “home on high.” Earthly envy melts away in the light of eternal possessions.

4. It is a Hymn for the Weary Warrior (Verse 4)
The final verse provides the sustaining truth for all of life’s conflicts, “whether great or small.” The foundation is God’s sovereignty: “Do not be discouraged, God is over all.” Upon that foundation, we are again told to practice gratitude. This discipline invites heavenly aid: “angels will attend, Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.” The act of thankful faith activates God’s provision of comfort and guidance, ministered by His unseen servants, all the way home.

The Chorus: The Practical Refrain
The chorus is the actionable core of the hymn. The repeated command to “Count your blessings, name them one by one” is the spiritual exercise. The command to “see what God hath done” is the shift in focus from our own efforts or failures to God’s faithful activity. It is a call to open our eyes.

A Word for Your Spirit Today

Are you tempest-tossed, burdened, or looking at others with a discontented heart? The Lord, through this hymn, offers you a way out.

Stop right now. Put down the heavy list of worries. Take up a pen and paper, or simply still your heart before God, and begin to obey: Count your blessings. Name them one by one.

Start with the breath in your lungs, the salvation of your soul, the forgiveness of your sins, the love of a friend, the provision of a meal. Let the list grow. As you do, you will find your doubts fleeing, your song returning, and your perspective lifting to see the God who is over all, faithfully providing for your journey to its glorious end.

Begin your count today. It will surprise you.

In the name of Jesus, the source of every blessing, Amen.

This is hymn 63 of the Open Heavens daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

HYMN 63: O FOR A THOUSAND TONGUES TO SING

1. O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of his grace!

2. My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread thro’ all the earth abroad
The honours of your name.

3. Jesus! the name that charms ourfears,
that bids our sorrows cease,
‘Tis music in the sinner’s ears,
“Tis life and health and peace.

4. He breaks the power of cancelled sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean;
His blood availed for me.

5. Hear Him, ye dear, His praise, ye dumb,
Your loosened tongues employ
Ye blind behold your Saviour come;
And leap, ye lame, for joy.

O FOR A THOUSAND TONGUES TO SING HYMN COMMENTARY

Beloved in Christ, this magnificent hymn, born from a heart transformed by God’s grace, begins with a confession of insufficiency. “O For a Thousand Tongues” is an outburst of holy frustration—the frustration of a soul so overwhelmed by the majesty of Christ’s redemption that one human tongue feels utterly inadequate to express it. It is a hymn that marries deep personal gratitude with a global missionary vision, all centered on the powerful name and finished work of Jesus.

Why Sing This Hymn

We sing this hymn to express the boundless nature of Christ’s worth, to pray for empowerment to proclaim Him to the world, and to celebrate the specific, powerful effects of His grace in our lives. It is a hymn of personal testimony that demands to be shared, moving from private wonder to public proclamation.

1. It is a Hymn of Exuberant Insufficiency (Verse 1)
The opening line is not hyperbole, but heartfelt longing. The singer feels the poverty of a single tongue to capture the “glories” of God and the “triumphs of his grace.” The desire for “a thousand tongues” is a poetic way of saying that all creation should join the chorus (Psalm 96:1). Our praise is always a response to His prior action—the triumphs are His, the grace is His. We sing because He has first sung the song of redemption over us.

2. It is a Hymn of Dependent Proclamation (Verse 2)
This longing naturally turns into prayer. We do not merely wish for more tongues; we ask our “gracious Master and… God” to “assist me to proclaim.” We recognize that even our proclamation is empowered by His grace. The goal is not private enjoyment but global declaration: “To spread thro’ all the earth abroad the honours of your name.” True adoration always has an evangelistic impulse. We cannot truly honor His name without desiring all nations to know it.

3. It is a Hymn of the All-Sufficient Name (Verse 3)
The hymn narrows its focus to the core: the name of “Jesus!” This name is presented as the solution to humanity’s deepest needs:

• For the fearful: It “charms our fears.”
• For the sorrowful: It “bids our sorrows cease.”
• For the sinner: It is “music,” offering hope instead of condemnation.
• For the broken: It is “life and health and peace.”
  The name is a comprehensive remedy, proving its worth not in theory, but in its transformative power in the human soul.

4. It is a Hymn of Emancipating Power (Verse 4)
Here is the theological heart of the hymn. Grace does not just forgive; it liberates. “He breaks the power of cancelled sin.” At the cross, sin’s penalty was cancelled. In our daily lives, its power is broken by the risen Christ. He “sets the prisoner free.” The verse then proclaims the limitless scope of the blood: it “can make the foulest clean.” No one is beyond its reach. The testimony becomes personal and triumphant: “His blood availed for me.” What is true for all is claimed for one.

5. It is a Hymn of Universal Invitation (Verse 5)
The final verse is a call to all creation to experience this grace. It is directed to the “deaf” to hear, the “dumb” to sing, the “blind” to see, and the “lame” to leap. This is both a physical and spiritual reality, echoing the miracles of Jesus’ ministry and the greater miracle of salvation. The gospel is for every kind of human need and bondage. The proper response to encountering this Savior is uncontainable joy and released praise.

A Word for Your Spirit Today

Does your praise feel routine? Does the wonder of your salvation feel dim? This hymn calls you to remember.

Let the desire for “a thousand tongues” reawaken your awe. Consider the triumphs of grace in your own life—how He charmed your fears, broke sin’s power, and made you clean. Let that memory be the fuel for your one tongue today.

Then, pray the prayer of verse two. Ask your Master to assist you in proclaiming His honors, however He may lead. And look around you at the “deaf” and “lame” in spirit—those bound by fear, sin, and sorrow. Point them to the name that is music, life, health, and peace. For the song that begins with a longing for a thousand tongues must end with inviting the whole world to sing along.

O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise!

In the all-sufficient name of Jesus, Amen.

This is hymn 62 of the Open Heavens daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

HYMN 62: ON A HILL FAR AWAY STOOD AN OLD RUGGED CROSS

1 On a hill far away
Stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross
Where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

Chorus:
So l’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

2. O that old rugged cross,
So despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God
Left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

3. In the old rugged cross,
Stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross
Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.

4. To the old rugged cross
I will ever be true,
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day
To my home far away,
Where his glory forever I’Il share.

ON A HILL FAR AWAY STOOD AN OLD RUGGED CROSS HYMN COMMENTARY

Beloved in Christ, few hymns capture the paradox of the Christian faith as poignantly as “The Old Rugged Cross.” It takes the universal symbol of torture, shame, and defeat and transforms it, through the lens of Christ’s love, into the object of our deepest affection and the source of our eternal hope. This hymn is a personal testimony of love for the cross, a clear-eyed look at its horror, and a triumphant declaration of the glory it secures.

Why Sing This Hymn

We sing this hymn to keep the brutal reality and beautiful purpose of the cross central in our hearts. It helps us to see past the world’s scorn to the “wondrous beauty” of God’s sacrifice, reaffirms our commitment to follow Christ regardless of reproach, and fixes our hope on the crown that the cross has won for us.

1. It is a Hymn of Personal Love for a Painful Emblem (Verse 1)
The hymn begins by painting a stark picture: an instrument of execution, an “emblem of suffering and shame,” standing on a distant hill. Yet, the singer’s response is not revulsion, but love: “And I love that old cross.” Why? Because of who died there and why: “the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain.” Love for the cross is inseparable from love for the Savior who died upon it and for the sinners He came to save. Our affection is for what it accomplished, not for the wood itself.

2. It is a Hymn of Divine Condescension and Wondrous Attraction (Verse 2)
This verse heightens the contrast. The cross is “despised by the world”—foolishness to those who are perishing (1 Corinthians 1:18). Yet, for the believer, it holds a “wondrous attraction.” This magnetic pull comes from the breathtaking truth it represents: “the dear Lamb of God left His glory above to bear it to dark Calvary.” The cross attracts us because it is the place where infinite love stooped to the deepest shame to rescue us. The greater the descent, the greater the love revealed.

3. It is a Hymn of Transformed Vision and Double Grace (Verse 3)
Here, the singer’s spiritual sight is clarified. What the world sees as a blood-stained tool of death, the believer sees with “wondrous beauty.” This beauty is in the blood, for it is “divine.” The cross is beautiful because of the divine life that was poured out there. The purpose of this suffering is then stated with beautiful simplicity: “To pardon and sanctify me.” The cross provides both our justification (pardon) and our sanctification (being made holy). It is the source of our entire salvation.

4. It is a Hymn of Steadfast Loyalty and Glorious Exchange (Verse 4)
The hymn moves from observation to commitment. Because of all the cross means, the resolution is made: “To the old rugged cross I will ever be true.” This loyalty means being willing to share in its “shame and reproach gladly”—identifying with Christ in a world that rejects Him. This earthly faithfulness is met with a heavenly promise: a calling “to my home far away.” The chorus, repeated throughout, seals the great exchange: we “cherish” and “cling to” the cross now, so that we may one day “exchange it… for a crown.” The way of the cross is the path to the crown of life (Revelation 2:10).

A Word for Your Spirit Today

Does the call to follow Christ feel costly? Are you tempted to downplay the “foolishness” of the cross to fit in with the world? This hymn calls you to look again at the old rugged cross.

See beyond the shame to the Savior. See beyond the blood to the beauty of a love that would bear your sin. Let it attract you, thrill you, and command your loyalty afresh.

Make the conscious choice today to cherish the cross—to value its message above the world’s applause. Bear its reproach with gladness, for you know it is not the end. You are clinging to a temporary emblem that guarantees an eternal crown. Keep clinging, keep cherishing, until the day of glorious exchange.

I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown.

In the name of Jesus, who bore the cross for me, Amen.

This is hymn 61 of the Open Heavens daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

HYMN 61: TAKE THE NAME OF JESUS WITH YOU

1. Take the name of Jesus with you,
Child of sorrow and of woe.
It will joy and comfort give you,
Take it then where’er you go.

Chorus:
Precious name, O how sweet!
Hope of earth and joy of heaven;
Precious name, O how sweet!
Hope of earth and joy of heaven.

2. Take the name of Jesus ever
As a shield from evr’y snare;
If temptations ’round you gather,
Breathe that holy name in prayer.

3. Oh, the precious name of Jesus,
How it thrills our souls with joy,
When His loving arms receive us,
And His songs our tongues employ!

4. At the name of Jesus bowing,
Falling prostrate at His feet
King of kings, in heaven we’ll crown Him
When our journey is complete.

TAKE THE NAME OF JESUS WITH YOU HYMN COMMENTARY

Beloved in Christ, this warm and encouraging hymn, “Take the Name of Jesus With You,” is a practical guide for the daily walk of the believer. It presents the name of Jesus not as a mere theological title, but as a living source of comfort, a weapon against evil, a wellspring of joy, and the focus of our eternal worship. It is a hymn for the journey, reminding us that we are never alone or defenseless when we consciously carry the name of our Savior with us.

Why Sing This Hymn

We sing this hymn to remind ourselves of the abiding presence and power available to us in the name of Jesus, to equip us for daily spiritual battles, and to cultivate a heart that finds its deepest hope and joy in Him alone. It is a hymn for the burdened, the tempted, and the worshipful heart.

1. It is a Hymn for the Sorrowful and Weary (Verse 1)
The hymn speaks directly to the “Child of sorrow and of woe.” It acknowledges the reality of our grief and pain in this fallen world. The prescription is simple yet profound: “Take the name of Jesus with you.” His name is not a magic charm, but a reminder of His person, promise, and presence. It is a portable source of “joy and comfort” because it signifies that the Comforter Himself is with us “where’er you go.” In every changing scene, His unchanging name is our constant.

2. It is a Hymn for Spiritual Warfare (Verse 2)
The name of Jesus is also our spiritual armor. We are to take it “ever as a shield from ev’ry snare.”When “temptations ’round you gather,” the most powerful recourse is not merely willpower, but prayerful invocation: “Breathe that holy name in prayer.” To speak His name in the face of temptation is to assert His authority over the enemy, to claim His victory, and to seek His delivering power. It is the practical outworking of the truth that “the name of the Lord is a strong tower” (Proverbs 18:10).

3. It is a Hymn of Thrilling Joy and Loving Embrace (Verse 3)
This verse captures the intimate, emotional joy of our relationship with Christ. The very thought of His “precious name” thrills the soul because of what it represents: His “loving arms” that receive us. Our salvation is not a cold transaction but a warm embrace. The result is that “His songs our tongues employ”—our worship is a joyful echo of the song He has put in our hearts. His name is sweet because it is the name of our Beloved.

4. It is a Hymn of Present Reverence and Future Coronation (Verse 4)
The hymn culminates in the ultimate response to His name: worship. “At the name of Jesus bowing, Falling prostrate at His feet” reflects the truth of Philippians 2:10-11—that every knee will bow. We are to practice this reverence now. This earthly journey of carrying His name leads to a heavenly climax: “King of kings, in heaven we’ll crown Him When our journey is complete.” Our lives are a pilgrimage that ends in the glorious act of crowning Jesus as our all in all.

The Chorus: The Heart’s Sweet Refrain
The chorus is a burst of adoration. “Precious name, O how sweet!” is the spontaneous cry of one who has experienced its comfort and power. It declares His name to be the “hope of earth” for our present struggles and the “joy of heaven” for our eternal destiny. The repetition emphasizes its surpassing sweetness above every other name.

A Word for Your Spirit Today

Are you carrying a burden of sorrow or facing a snare of temptation? Do you need comfort for today and hope for tomorrow?

This hymn gives you a tangible practice. Consciously take the name of Jesus with you into your day. Speak it in your quiet moments. Whisper it as a prayer when anxiety strikes. Cry it out as a shield when temptation burns. Let it be the first thought in the morning and the last at night.

Remember, you are not carrying a slogan, but the name of a Person—your loving Savior, your mighty King, your coming Joy. Let that name be your comfort, your shield, and your song until the day you see Him face to face and crown Him Lord of all.

Precious name, O how sweet!

In the mighty and comforting name of Jesus, Amen.