Awake, My Soul

Description

This elegant cloth-bound devotional features 365 hymns from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century, each paired with a brief meditation. Includes a title index and ribbon. Marks hymns for Passion Week and Advent.

Click here to view the full list of hymns

Sample Excerpt

Before the Throne of God Above

1 Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea,
a great High Priest whose name is Love,
who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on his hands;
my name is written on his heart;
I know that while in heav'n he stands,
no tongue can bid me thence depart.

2 When Satan tempts me to despair,
and tells me of the guilt within,
upward I look and see him there
who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died,
my sinful soul is counted free;
for God the Just is satisfied
to look on him and pardon me.

3 Behold him there, the risen Lamb!
My perfect, spotless Righteousness;
the great unchangeable I AM,
the King of glory and of grace!
One with himself I cannot die;
my soul is purchased with his blood;
my life is hid with Christ on high,
with Christ my Savior and my God!

The Christian life is a life of constant, hope-filled repentance. The work is finished, Christ has sat down at the right hand of the Father, the unalterable legal declaration has been made: "Righteous!" (Rom. 8:33). The Spirit testifies to the blood of Jesus, and the Father is satisfied. This is why our repentance is full of hope: forgiveness is already granted.

This hope does not originate within, but from above: when Satan tells me of the guilt within, I look upward, not inward. When accused by Satan, we may say with Bunyan, "All this is true; and much more… but the Prince whom I serve and honor is merciful and ready to forgive" (The Pilgrim's Progress, IV). We have died to sin, our lives are hidden with Christ (Col. 3:3), and we are kept by the promise of God, who cannot lie (Heb. 6:18).

Table of Contents

Introduction
   Daily Readings
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
   Seasonal Readings
Passion Week
Resurrection Sunday
Advent (24 days)
Christmas Day

Indexes
Psalm Settings
Common Tunes and First Lines
Titles
Hymn Writers and Translators

Endorsements

“When I awake in the morning, feeling slightly overwhelmed by pain, I get my soul happy in Jesus by picking a hymn for the day. That’s why I love Dan Kreider’s new book, Awake, My Soul—it’s the perfect yearlong devotional book for a 'hymn lady' like me. Whether you read or sing the texts, my choirmaster-friend has chosen timeless hymns that have rich doctrine and joy-filled melodies. Plus, Dan shares a treasure trove of biblical insights that fit with each day’s song. So, if you want to get your soul glad in God each sunrise—especially amid stressful trials—then make Awake, My Soulyour daily bedside devotional, right next to your Bible. If you prize hymns the way I do, you will love Awake, My Soul.”
—Joni Eareckson Tada, Founder, Joni and Friends International Disability Center

“Dan Kreider’s Awake, My Soul helps us do what the best hymns have always invited Christians to do—slow down, meditate on biblical truth, and lift our hearts to God in praise. Each day pairs a carefully chosen hymn with a brief devotional that directs the reader back to Scripture and the glory of Christ. The result is a daily guide that teaches us to sing with both mind and spirit. If you want to rediscover the beauty, depth, and devotional power of the church’s great hymns, this book will serve you well.”
—Douglas Sean O’Donnell, Senior VP of Bible Editorial, Crossway Books

“Whether or not you grew up singing hymns, Awake, My Soul will introduce you to composers and hymns that you probably didn’t know about but should. Dan Kreider has served the church by thoughtfully compiling 365 hymns for meditation, edification, and even singing(!) that cover a wide variety of biblical and theological themes. Even better, he’s written concise comments on each hymn that could be used in a Sunday service or for personal reflection. Thoroughly biblical, Christ-exalting, and devotional, Awake, My Soul engenders a deep gratefulness for the contribution hymns throughout history have made to our love for our great God and Savior.”
—Bob Kauflin, Director, Sovereign Grace Music; Pastor; Author, Worship Matters and True Worshipers

“This excellent work serves both as a daily devotional and as a resource, helpfully curating familiar and lesser-known hymn texts from throughout church history. The reflections that accompany each text are Scripture-filled and spiritually enriching, the hymn texts themselves are beautiful and worth singing, and the whole volume is thoughtfully laid out. I’ve given many copies of Awake, My Soul to friends and family because I believe that it leads us to love Christ more and to enter each day with greater anticipation of glorious gospel truths, beautifully expressed, to the great benefit of the church.”
—Greg Wilbur, Chief Musician, Cornerstone Presbyterian Church, Franklin, Tennessee; Founder and Faculty, New College Franklin

“Dan Kreider has curated an old-school hymnbook for the twenty-first century. It functions excellently as a daily devotional, it looks beautiful, and it feels good in the hand. Every hymn is paired with a bite-sized rumination that further illuminates the text. I gave one to my dad for Christmas, and he loved it.”
—Randall Goodgame, Singer-Songwriter; Author; Founder, Scripture Hymnal and Slugs & Bugs

“Carefully curated and each anchored by a concise, scriptural devotional, these hymns are a timeless gift to us. Dan Kreider has given us a deeply thoughtful and accessible tool to awaken our souls on Sundays and each day between and to help us sing with better understanding. As a worshipper and worship pastor, I know I will keep this close for years to come!”
—Tim Hathaway, Pastor of Worship, Calvary Church, Charlotte, North Carolina

“Awake, My Soul masterfully captures the heart of sacred church music by blending the truths of our hymns with personal meditations for daily life. Each devotional thought draws on the theological richness of the paired hymn, bringing them together into one unique tool. May God’s people use it to the praise of his glory.”
—Jerry Wragg, Pastor-Teacher, Grace Immanuel Bible Church, Jupiter, Florida

The Author