Bringing our honest selves to God

Albert Bogle November 08, 2025 1 1

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James 5: 13 (NIV)

13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.

As this verse urges — songs can help us bring our honest selves to God; unvarnished, uninhibited, unabashed! I started to think what is the song that speaks to millions of people about their spiritual condition?

I guess there is not really one song, yet there is a song that seems to be top of the list if you were to Google it.  You’ve guessed it already! ‘Amazing Grace’. So what is it about this hymn that speaks to the human heart? I think for those who have experienced the true sentiment behind the hymn it allows them to express their gratitude and disbelief that God could accept them. For those who have never encountered the reality of the song in their life, it is an invitation to explore the grace and love of God. This is one of the best renderings of the song I have heard, by Judy Collins you can listen on Spotify here.

Prayer

Grace is Amazing!

Lord,

Let me never become complacent when it comes to grace

Your grace —

Grace that is so costly.

Forgiveness is no empty phrase on your lips

It bears its wounds on your body

Each wound carries within it

Hurt and pain

Sorrow and regret

Shame and anger

Abandonment and rejection

There is nothing cheap about the cross

Love that absorbs wrong

Love that releases peace

Love that heals a multitude of sins

Love that will not let us go

Love that reshapes mercy into Justice

And Justice that makes peace with the sign of the cross

There is nothing shallow about your remedy for sin and guilt

There is nothing more deeply, costly than redemption

So we will sing and keep singing our songs of redemption.

Lord,

Let me never become complacent when it comes to grace

Your grace -

Grace that is so costly.