DECEMBER 28 - My Savior Leads Me . . . and Francie

DECEMBER 28 - My Savior Leads Me . . . and Francie

 

The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads

them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they

know his voice. — JOHN 10:3 – 4

 

When we arrived in Beijing, China, we knew the next two weeks would be crowded with speaking engagements at churches and rehab clinics. To stave off weariness, my secretary, Francie, and I decided to

memorize a hymn as we drove around town. Whenever we piled into our van, we’d start singing “All the Way My Savior Leads Me.”

 

All the way my Savior leads me; What have I to ask beside?

Can I doubt His tender mercy, Who thru life has been my guide?

Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort, Here by faith in Him to dwell!

For I know what’er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well.

 

Morning, noon, and night, we lightened our journey by singing until we knew by heart all three verses, backward and forward! It helped us to remain focused on Jesus, our Shepherd; we were his sheep, following his lead. Francie and I laughingly labeled ourselves “The Singing Ewes.” On the last day, as we drove to the airport, we sang of our wonderful Shepherd one more time — our Chinese pastor-host turned from the front seat and said, “You people back there sing a lot !”

 

James 5:13 says, “Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.” The words to hymns make excellent prayers — especially when you find it hard to describe your feelings and concerns to God. Consider the last verse of Francie’s and my hymn: “All the way my Savior leads me; / Oh, the fullness of His love! / Perfect rest to me is promised / In my Father’s house above: / When my spirit, cloth’d immortal, / Wings its flight to realms of day, / This my song thru endless ages: / Jesus led me all the way.”4

 

 

Oh faithful Shepherd, bless you for leading me all the way through this day. I trust you with your rod and staff, guiding and encouraging me all the way.