Lord Take My Hand and Lead Me, ELW 767
1 Lord, take my hand and lead me upon life's way;
direct, protect, and feed me from day to day.
Without your grace and favor I go astray;
so take my hand, O Savior, and lead the way.
2 Lord, when the tempest rages, I need not fear;
for you, the Rock of Ages, are always near.
Close by your side abiding, I fear no foe,
for when your hand is guiding, in peace I go.
3 Lord, when the shadows lengthen and night has come,
I know that you will strengthen my steps toward home,
then nothing can impede me, O blessed Friend!
So, take my hand and lead me unto the end.
Devotion
When a week of new beginnings comes to an end, it is fitting that we sing. "Lord Take My Hand and Lead Me" is an amazing message of grace and support that a college student learns, if not in the first week, soon in the school year.
So God, too, lets us off on the doorstep of new beginnings, bags to unpack, issues to explore, neighbors to serve and wonders to imagine. How connected? It is up to us to decide. Call often and know that you are loved. But it is your life to live. Losing and finding, individual and communal, believing and doing. Explore your gifts, pay attention to your neighbors and say your prayers.
If it were only that easy. Tempest will rage, convention will be challenged, concepts will confound and relationships will break. But in it all God promises to lead and to guide, to be with and to support the journey of new beginnings and beyond. Hand holding is reason enough for singing.
Prayer
God of music, give us songs to sing and harmonies to ensemble and tempo for our days. It is life, joyful and adoring of you and our world that we welcome this day. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.