I have proof that we need to indulge in hymns: "....be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord...." Ephesians 5, 18-19. Enough said! So I decided to help you. Yes, I know, that's the definition of 'too known'. But the quotation above from the Bible says it all, and me Rami I say you should INDULGE in singing hymns. And I'm helping you by talking about even more hymns. Once again all hymn numbers are from Hymns Ancient and Modern. So, say a prayer, dedicate all hymns to the Lord, clear your throat (that will still not help some of us), and let's sing. Nana Yaa Twum, are you singing?? 165. O God, our help in ages past - I love the beginning of this hymn especially because of the eminently quotable first line. I have whispered those words so often when in trouble. Please don't ask me to define 'trouble'... 166. All people that on earth do dwell - There it is right from the get go of this hymn. Salvation is meant for ALL of us oh. No exceptions. Although it doesn't say anything about people who do not dwell on earth. Unless of course....they are not people. "Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice." I suppose it is possible to sing to the Lord in a miserable voice. 169. My God, how wonderful Thou art - The hymnist makes a valiant effort to describe our Lord, and does a pretty good job: "Thy majesty how bright...How wonderful, how beautiful....", but somehow doesn't quite make it. And yet he ends with a feeling we must all get at some point in our praise of the Lord: "And gaze and gaze on thee." Oh yes! 184. Rock of ages, cleft for me - A hymn taken straight from a Biblical story and turned into a song of pleading. "Let me hide myself in Thee." Please Lord! And yet we know for a fact that we have already been covered. I have a version of this hymn covered by an African-American choir as a bouncy rhythmic song, and you know what: it works! 197. The King of love my Shepherd is - A 'common' Shepherd (notice the capital letter) is referred to as a king, and not just an ordinary king, but the One who reigns over love. And not only that but His "goodness faileth never". How can it fail when He is a King of love?? And not only that but "He is mine forever". 215. The Church's one foundation - The certainty of knowing that all we believe in is the 'one foundation', and that is all we need. "With His own blood, He bought her, And for her life, He died." As a Ghanaian may have said, the writer of this hymn write am paaaaaa! The language is wonderful and it conveys the solidity of a true base to our lives. 243. Lord, Thy Word abideth -  If there was ever a hymn that threw the Word in our faces and told us to abide by it, then this must be it. "....Thy Word doth cheer us, Word of consolation, Message of salvation." 255. Just as I am, without one plea - I've never been very good at singing hymns from memory, or even reciting certain words when I am 'hot', but the beginning of this hymn is one that comes very easily to mind. And the end of each verse: "O Lamb of God I come." It just signifies total submission. And let your heart take note that it is submission to a Lamb, probably the meekest of animals. 271. O Jesus, I have promised - Promises, promises! From us, I mean, not the Almighty. How tired He must be when He hears us promising 'by heart'. But then we know where our focus must be when we say, "But Jesus, draw thou nearer, And shield my soul from sin". If we promise based on faith in Him, then surely that promise shall be fulfilled. 280. Thine for ever! God of love - Another promise, another 'I swear' moment, as we say we belong to the Almighty forever. I love the way that promise is made in the first line of each verse of this hymn. Sometimes it feels like we need to reassure ourselves. 303. When morning gilds the skies - A hymn of praise from the morning till the end of time, covering all instances of our life, and death as well. I particularly enjoy the repetition of the line "May Jesus Christ be praised" in every verse. And not only repeated but sung twice in each verse. Whenever I sing this hymn I find myself almost shouting that line, especially at the end of each verse. 316. Alleluia! sing to Jesus! - One of my all-time favourites. The line which says that peaceful songs 'thunder like a mighty flood' is just so majestic and ablaze with glory! Those words are in the first verse but are repeated in the last verse as the hymn thunders to its conclusion: "Jesus out of every nation, Hath redeemed us by His Blood." Wonderful! Let's sing it again! 350. The voice that breathed o'er Eden - The quintessential wedding hymn, isn't it? And one of my Mum's favourites as it happens. I am unable to take part in singing this hymn in church for the simple reason that I always tear up as soon as the organ plays the first notes. After that, I am a blubbering wreck. It is such a beautiful hymn, both musically and for the magnificent words that speak so eloquently of the marriage before us in church, and of the marriage between the church and our Lord. Simply captivating. I almost feel like getting married again just to hear this hymn in church....almost. I have a question. Are there any new hymns being written? And if so where are they? When was the last time a new hymn was added to any of our traditional orthodox hymn books? And if not, why not? Just wondering. I discovered over time that closing my eyes when I sing some of my favourite hymns helps me enjoy them even more. Or maybe it's a natural thing? Or is it just a defence mechanism against my horrible singing voice?? Someone much cleverer than me once said that when you sing a hymn....well....that's how you would sound if God was in your mouth. Have a blessed 2020, and may it be filled with hymns. And I'll definitely be doing another piece (or two) on Amazing Hymns.