~* DAY BY DAY *~
Karolina W. Sandell-Berg, 1832-1903
Translated by Andrew L. Skoog, 1856-1934
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Joshua 1:9
It is a common tendency for people to look ahead. They
wonder--what will happen next? That's why the pseudo science of
astrology is booming today as never before. Because we are
apprehensive of the future, wondering when some health problem
or perhaps a financial difficulty will surprise us, we long for
a reassuring word of comfort.
"Day by Day" was written by a young Swedish woman who learned
early in life the all-important lesson of living each day with
a conscious presence and strength of her Lord. Lina Sandell
has often been called the "Fanny Crosby of Sweden" for her many
contributions to gospel hymnody. From her pen flowed
approximately 650 hymns which strongly influenced the waves of
revival that swept the Scandinavian countries during the latter
half of the 19th Century.
At the age of 26, Lina had an experience that greatly influenced
her life. She was accompanying her father aboard ship to the
city of Gothenburg, Sweden, across Lake Vattern. The ship gave
a sudden lurch, and Lina's father, a devout minister of the Gospel,
fell overboard and drowned before the eyes of his devoted
daughter. Although Lina had written many hymn texts prior to
this tragic experience, now more than ever poetic thoughts that
expressed a tender, child-like trust in her Lord began to flow
freely from her broken heart.
Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find, to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He Whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best—
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.
Every day, the Lord Himself is near me
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me,
He Whose Name is Counselor and Power;
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”
This the pledge to me He made.
Help me then in every tribulation
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E'er to take, as from a father’s hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till I reach the promised land.
*For Today*: Deuteronomy 33:25; Psalm 55:22; II Corinthians 12:9; Hebrews 4:16
Practice the kind of deep and peaceful trust that Lina Sandell has expressed in this hymn.
Focus only on the LORD when cumbered with the challenges and difficulties of today, and trust the Lord for tomorrow.
Music
Portions from Amazing Grace -- 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions © Copyright 1990 by Kenneth W. Osbeck. Published by Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, MI. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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