Praying through Hymns | Fresh as the Morning

This is part of a series focus on intentionally praying through and reflecting on hymns, instead of just deafly singing the lyrics. 

I first heard Fresh as the Morning for a vespers service at a Regional Youth Conference. I was involved in planning the conference, but not in the musical aspects. I remember being skeptical of a hymn and wanted something more upbeat, instead of something that made your mouth ache with it's slow tempo. Well, after singing through a sacred evening worship - I quickly became a believer...falling in love with the lyrics and music of this beautiful hymn.

base image // source

It's comforting to sing over and over again - "God always faithful, you do not change." Also, this hymn doesn't give a pronoun to God, which I just feel elevates God's...Godliness. The idea that God surpasses our created constructs of gender is just one that fills me with so much inner peace at how God is so without limits...

Fresh as the Morning (God of the Bible)
Words by Shirley Erena Murray | Music by Ron Klumsmeier

One

God of the Bible, God in the Gospel,

hope seen in Jesus, hope yet to come,

you are our center, daylight or darkness,

freedom or prison, you are our home.

Refrain

Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,

God always faithful, you do not change.

Two

God in our struggles, God in our hunger,

suffering with us, taking our part,

still you empower us, mothering Spirit,

feeding, sustaining, from your own heart.

Three

Those without status, those who are nothing,

you have made royal, gifted with rights,

chosen as partners, midwives of justice,

birthing new systems, lighting new lights.

Four

Not by your finger, not by your anger,

will our world order change in a day,

but by your people, fearless and faithful,

small paper lanterns, lighting the way.

Five

Hope we must carry, shining and certain,

through all our turmoil, terror and loss,

bonding us gladly, one to the other,

till our world changes, facing the Cross.

There aren't many renditions of this hymn on the internet. Go figure. The above video is a lovely rendition from a Church in Arizona that played it for Easter service.

May God bind us, one to another,
Until our world changes, facing the cross. 

Love, 

Katie