Tag: Guide me O Thou great Jehovah

Wednesday 4th March 2026

“Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and they set out from Acacia Grove and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they crossed over. 2 So it was, after three days, that the officers went through the camp; 3 and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. 4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.” Joshua 3:1-4 NKJV

Father of new mornings,

Thank you that every morning is new with fresh hope and love and Your mercy. Even though here we are again with the children of Israel paused at a river wondering how they would get across. Perhaps they remembered the story their parents told them about crossing another different river when they left Egypt? Only two people would actually remember that – Caleb and Joshua.

But You do not need to do things the same way Lord. You are creative and show Your power though another water parting miracle! With Moses the staff represented Your command through Moses for the water to part. Here the ark of the covenant – the symbol of Your presence with them went first And the water itself drew back before You God.. They were to follow a little behind. How symbolic. Following You carefully not trying to rush ahead or assume the way. They had to wait, look and follow. Then they had their own testimony of Your miraculous power and provision of a dry crossing..

I can think of no better lesson Lord. Whatever life throws at us, whatever deep water is to be passed through, or mountain climbed,. We should look for You, wait upon You and follow where You lead. We too will see and have our own miracles to attest to Your provision and way forward. Thank You that You are with us always as we too have not passed this way before.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 4th March 2026
I limit this hymn to about once a year – but sometimes a rousing familiar hymn is needed to lift us to praise.

Guide me, O Thou great Redeemer,
pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but you are mighty;
hold me with Thy powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
feed me till I want no more,
feed me till I want no more.

Open now the crystal fountain,
whence the healing waters flow.
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,
be Thou still my strength and shield,
be thou still my strength and shield.

When I tread the verge of Jordan,
bid my anxious fears subside.
Death of death, and hell’s Destruction,
land me safe on Canaan’s side.
Songs of praises, songs of praises
I will ever give to Thee,
I will ever give to Thee.

Lyrics: William Williams translated by Peter Williams

Wednesday 28th January 2026

” Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon.   Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’ 4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord. “ So the Israelites did this.” Exodus 14:1-4 NKJV

“ Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, 22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground,  with a wall of water on their right and on their left. 23 The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. 24 During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. 25 He jammed the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.” 26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” Exodus 14:21-26 NKJV

Lord God Almighty,

You told Moses to tell the Israelites to turn back and camp by the sea! They must have thought him mad. Reversing towards the enemy and cut off by an expanse of water. There comes a time when we just have to trust You know best. And You did. There was a pillar of cloud to guide and they obeyed! I am sure it did not stop them muttering and complaining as they did all the rest of the way.

Following not just saved them it removed the problem completely. It did not take away the challenge before them but the threat behind them. Lord God help us to keep looking forward to where You would lead us and not be overwhelmed by the challenges ahead. Remove any threats we have from behind and watch our backs as You did for the Israelites.

You can open the way forward when it is the right time and you lead and do not push. The enemy pushes us and makes us feel trapped. When You say forward, that is when we need to move. So help us know and recognise Your voice in whatever way it comes. Jesus told us we would know His voice and so we stand on that promise and listen. (John 10:27).

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 28th January 2026
Sometimes worship needs to be a familiar rousing tune and well known words.


Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty,
Hold me with Thy pow’rful hand.
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,
Feed me till I want no more;
Feed me till I want no more.

Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliv’rer, strong Deliv’rer,
Be Thou still my Strength and Shield;
Be Thou still my Strength and Shield.

When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death and hell’s Destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan’s side.
Songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to Thee;
I will ever give to Thee.

Lyrics: William Williams
Translator: Peter Williams

Saturday 8th March 2025

 “Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—became insolent 2 and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council. 3 They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?” 4 When Moses heard this, he fell facedown.” Numbers 16:1-4
“ As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart 32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, and all those associated with Korah, together with their possessions. 33 They went down alive into the realm of the dead, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community. 34 At their cries, all the Israelites around them fled, shouting, “The earth is going to swallow us too! And fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.” Numbers 16:31-34 NIV

Eternal God,

The book of numbers is distressing. Your people rebel, then they suffer and die. they disobey and they suffer and die. Here we see Korah jealous of Moses. Does he meet to talk about it. No he gathers a gang to support him. Moses he does not react but falls facedown. In despair, disappointment, humility? Then he challenges them. They are to take 250 incense censers and offer them to the Lord. Surely they remembered what happened to Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1-7). Well they went in when they shouldn’t have, with incense, and came out all right . . . till the fire came.

There are those who will not believe in God, those who will not submit to God and those who wrestle with His teaching. It brings me back to You, the God of choices, yes but with eternal consequences. I do not want to believe in hell but the Bible teaches me otherwise. In the context of the whole Bible there has to be judgement. Without it there would have been no need for Jesus to come and die to save us from it. I would not know the joy of forgiveness and the promise of heaven in Jesus.

We do not want to step away from those today who do not know You. They are our family and friends. So we fall to our knees and ask that You soften their hearts, open their eyes to see You and the choice to step away from death and whatever is beyond and know Your future and eternal life.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Saturday 8th March 2025
Looking, I could not find many hymns today that mention hell, so here we are with the very well known hymn whose last verse does.

Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but Thou art mighty;
Hold me with Thy powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven
Feed me now and evermore;
Feed me now and evermore.

Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing waters flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer, Strong deliverer
Be Thou still my Strength and Shield.
Be Thou still my Strength and Shield.

When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death, and hell’s destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan’s side.
Songs of praises, Songs of praises,
I will ever give to Thee, I will ever give to Thee.

Repeat last verse.

Lyrics: William Williams.
Translated from Welsh by Richard Williams.