SING A PSALM

Hymns strengthen and comfort us.

They help us praise God, pray to him and express joy.

They help us draw nearer to him and feel his spirit.

I have many 'favorite' hymns. As I hear them I feel more - more calm, less distress, more comfort, less grief, more gratitude, less greed, more awe, less downtrodden, more aware, less ignorant, more confidence, less doubt, more love, less fear.

As I read or sing them I remember more of all good and less of all else. [see Hymn 125 and several on either side of it in the LDS Hymn Book.]

Many psalms are recorded in the Old Testament of the Bible. Psalms 145:9 teaches us "the Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works." As we remember blessings received it helps us through difficult times. 

A hymn may be thought of or referred to as a Psalm. 

2 Nephi 4:15-35 is often called the 'Psalm of Nephi'.

In this psalm or 'hymn' Nephi describes his despair at knowing that we all are 'fallen' and need the atonement of Jesus Christ.  He finds hope despite feeling 'encompassed about' by remembering how God has helped him in the past. 

Do you have a favorite hymn? 

Why is it meaningful to you? 

Do you sing or do you just listen?

Either may heal and lift.

In the February New Era David A. Bednar teaches about 'The Tender Mercies of the Lord'.  There is a 'tender mercy' journal suggestion.  It may help you to remember or discover ways God has blessed and helped you. It can be read or listened to.  Select the 'listen' link on the right side of the page link. You can print the journaling page in a variety of formats.

Elder Bednar teaches,

 “Some individuals who hear or read this message erroneously may discount or dismiss in their personal lives the availability of the tender mercies of the Lord, believing that “I certainly am not one who has been or ever will be chosen.”

 We may falsely think that such blessings and gifts are reserved for other people who appear to be more righteous or who serve in visible Church callings. I testify that the tender mercies of the Lord are available to all of us and that the Redeemer of Israel is eager to bestow such gifts upon us ...

"God does not have a list of favorites to which we must hope our names will someday be added. He does not limit 'the chosen' to a restricted few. Rather it is our hearts and our aspirations and our obedience which determine whether we are counted as one of God's chosen"

... the Father’s work is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of His children. [Moses 1:39] Our work is to keep His commandments with all of our might, mind, and strength  [D&C 11:20] — and we thereby become chosen and, through the Holy Ghost, receive and recognize the tender mercies of the Lord in our daily lives."

What blessings might you call 'tender mercies'?