Near To The Heart Of God

by Robert J. Morgan

A 365-day devotional that focuses on best-loved hymns of the faith by bestselling hymn historian of Then Sings My Soul.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Devotional, Religion, Amazon, Christian Non Fiction

766 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2010

Reviews

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The great hymns of the faith are not only meaningful songs we love to sing--they teach us about God and ourselves. They are miniature Bible studies that lead us effortlessly toward worship, testimony, exhortation, prayer, and praise. They clear our minds, soothe our nerves, verbalize our worship, summarize our faith, and sing our great Redeemer's praise. Each devotional contains an opening story about the hymn or its writer, the lyrics to the hymn, and a closing Scripture.

This has been part of my morning devotional since Jan 1st. I have read a couple of days at a time in order to finish it in less than a year. If you love the old hymns, I highly recommend this as Morgan presents a hymn for each date corresponding to something that ties in to the composer or lyricist for that date - could be their birthday, death date, significant accomplishment etc. The historical background behind each song was fascinating. There are both familiar and unfamiliar hymns in this collection. I really liked taking the time to look at the words of the song and ponder the meaning. For myself, I often get so wrapped up in the hymns I do know that I don't think as closely about the message as I should. I would highly recommend this to those who love the older hymns that our ancestors sang.

FAVORITE QUOTES: "True spirituality is learning to enjoy a constant awareness of His presence."

"There must be full surrender before there can be full blessedness. God admits you by the one into the other."

"Someone once defined anxiety as a small trickle of fear that cuts a channel in the brain into which all other thoughts drain."

"Fait is placing logical trust in something that gives evidence of being true and trustworthy."

[Glenn Crouch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've found this a nice addition to my daily devotions for 2014. Each day you get a bit of the background of the writer / composer / hymn that ties somehow into the date (eg birthday, death day, anniversary of some event) and then a Hymn.

Whilst many of the hymns were well known to me, I was pleasantly exposed to many I did not know (or perhaps had forgotten).

Reading Hymns for devotional purposes is very worthwhile!

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always love hymn stories, but this one is less about the hymn stories and more about the hymn writer. I wish the author had used better known hymns. I think the subtitle word "best-loved" may reflect his own position on the hymns rather than that of Christendom in general. Sometimes he used hymns that likely were not sung often even back in my grandmother's days. Many certainly did not appear in hymn books of the last 60 years. I own copies of hymnals prior to this era and did not check them, but I've pretty much memorized the contents of several hymnals dating back 50 to 65 years and never heard those. Fortunately he often told you well-known hymn tunes to which the hymns could be sung. It's still a useful book to use in daily devotional thoughts.

[Steve Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I discovered many unfamiliar hymns in this collection. I also learned a few new things about the authors and composers of many of the hymns. The hymn for each day was selected because it was the date of the author or composer's birth or death, the date it was first published or sung, or it was written or sung for a certain occasion, or it was significant to a certain event that happened on that date. Each devotional reading began with a brief story about the author or the hymn, then included the lyrics of the hymn, and ended with a Bible verse that related to the hymn.

[David Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book about the origin of hymns. I found it inspiring to listen to most of them via my music service while reading the text. The stories focus a but more than expected on the morbid - lots of people maimed and dying, it seems - but maybe those are more memorable. (On the other hand, there is the guy this morning who dies of tonsillitis on a cruise on his honeymoon, so maybe this observation is not unfairly off-point.)

If you like religious music, then this is a great daily reading book.

[SKP · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really, really enjoyed this devotional books of Hymns. As I read them, I used the hymns in the meditations to make a playlist in my Apple Music, and that was a nice way to reinforce what I was reading. I have purchased a number of other books by this author because I really enjoy using music with my devotional time.

[Mike Crews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderful history of hymns


Morgan tracks the history of many hymns, some well-known, many little known, and several all but forgotten. I found many of the stories fascinating and inspiring.

[BARBARA A MITTLESTEAD]

A Good Read to bring forth thoughts

[Debbie Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this devotional this year. One hymn and the story behind the hymn for every day of the year. It was wonderful.

I enjoyed many old favorites, and the stories behind them; and I found some new hymns that I had never heard before and love the lyrics of. I looked the tunes up on the Internet so I could sing them and not just read the words. I love the old hymns. New tunes are good, but the old songs really speak to my heart.

I highly recommend this devotional.

Here is a new song... from Dec. 26 ... I love this... I have been hoping for the coming of the Lord; more every day. When you have loved ones in heaven, the Lord and my dad; as well as other relatives and dear former Sunday School teachers and church members from the church where I grew up. There are LOTS of reasons to look forward to the coming of the Lord.

“A lamp in the night, a song in time of sorrow;
A great glad hope which faith can ever borrow
To gild the passing day, with the glory of the morrow,
Is the hope of coming of the Lord.

A star in the sky, a beacon bright to guide us;
An anchor sure to hold when storms betide us;
A refuge for the soul, where in quiet we may hide us,
Is the hope of the coming of the Lord.

A call of command, like trumpet clearly sounding,
To make us bold when evil is surrounding;
To stir the sluggish heart and to keep in good abounding,
Is the hope of the coming of the Lord.

Chorus:
Blessed hope, blessed hope,
Blessed hope of the coming of the Lord;
How the aching heart it cheers,
How it glistens through our tears,
Blessed hope of the coming of the Lord.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yearly Devotional of Precious Hymns!

I have thoroughly enjoyed and been blessed by the stories and scripture associated with these 366 Hymns. My soul sang with the lyrics each day even if some hymns were unfamiliar to me. We often don't take in account the author or composers of the many hymns we sing that resonate deep within our soul. How much sweeter the hymns knowing a little of their history! I highly recommend this devotional!

[Ruthe Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Throughout the year of 2016, I have been reading “Near to the Heart of God” with its 366 daily 1-page devotionals, focusing on a Christian hymn and including information about the writer or and the story behind the hymn. I have been inspired, challenged, delighted and sustained with the information within these pages. For the new year, I will be continuing my practice of reading about one hymn a day through another of Robert Morgan’s books on hymns.

[Jennifer]

The author has done several books looking at the real stories behind how favorite hymns came to be. Excited to use this book, which uses hymn stories as devotional meditations, as part of my devotions.

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Using as a secondary devotional for 2012...

Nice secondary devotional for the year. Each day had a different hymn and history about either the author or something that tied to the day. Enjoyed it :)

[William Bradford · Rating 4 out of 5]

The majority of the selections were quite good. Some of them seemed to not work well in bringing out the intended point, but some were moving. Overall, a nice set of daily devotional readings.

[Bob Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked reading about and singing (the ones I knew) a different hymn each day. I really wanted more back story on most of the hymns, though.

[LeeRoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unique and interesting devotional––a different hymn for each day of the year, some old and familiar (to me at least), others new to me, all inspiring.