The joy of hymns

I started compiling a list of hymns for the hymn project. It will be hard paring it down to just ten. I grew up singing hymns in church all the time. I'm grateful to have learned many because they've stuck in my mind even after all these years. However when short choruses became popular, I preferred those. Due to the folly and arrogance of youth, I thought that hymns were dull, boring, and dated.

Now that I'm older, I appreciate the depths of hymn lyrics. I think my favorite hymns fall into two categories. I love hymns that are full of the glorious work of Christ. These are hymns that make me long for the day when all the saints will be around the throne offering unending praise to God.

But I also love hymns about comfort in trials. The words express what's in my heart often better than I can. The words aren't just well turned phrases or just nice poetry, but ring true because they were written in the midst of deep personal trials. It's humbling to receive so much encouragement from the fruit of that suffering.

I've enjoyed Indelible Grace's combination of wonderful old hymns to modern music. There are a few tunes that I don't prefer, but overall I like the new renditions almost as well as the originals.

So here's my unordered, unpared list.

• My hope is built on nothing less
• And can it be
• It is well with my soul
• Arise, my soul, arise
• All hail the power of Jesus name
• How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
• Jesus lover of my soul
• Hast thou heard Him
• Like a river glorious
• What e'er my God ordains is right
• Dear refuge of my weary soul
• God moves in a mysterious way
• Lo, He comes from heav'n descending
• A mighty fortress is our God
• When I survey the wondrous cross
• Amazing grace
• Jesus I my cross have taken
• Come thou fount of every blessing
• There is a Fountain
  
• Jesus I am resting, resting
• My Lord I did not choose You