I will stand on every promise of Your Word

AW Tozer once said that “after the Sacred Scriptures, the next best companion for the soul is a good hymnal.”

For date night Cheryl and I spent some time adding songs to our fledgling family hymnal. We enjoyed researching the stories behind each song and then singing them together (Eden mostly babbled but we’ll get there…)

One song in particular, Every Promise written by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty, captured our attention and helped us to consider how we need to rely on the promises of God’s Word not just on Sunday mornings, but throughout our week, amidst the peaks and troughs of life.

Stuart Townend explains:

There are many songs and hymns in the church that help us to encounter God in the Sunday service; but not so many that help us to live out the gospel in our daily lives. And yet songs are a great way of remembering and meditating on the great truths of the faith during the 6 days and 22 hours of the week when we are not at church! This song is an attempt to begin to redress that balance; it reminds us that when we fall into sin, when we are faced with difficult decisions, we can rely on God’s promises to forgive, to guide, to strengthen us just when we need it. Jesus Himself said we are to live not by bread alone, but by the word of God — perhaps songs like this can help us to do that.
– Stuart Townend

Here are the words:

1. From the breaking of the dawn to the setting of the sun
I will stand on every promise of Your Word
Words of power strong to save that will never pass away
I will stand on every promise of Your Word
For Your covenant is sure
And on this I am secure
I can stand on ev’ry promise of Your Word

2. When I stumble and I sin condemnation pressing in
I will stand on ev’ry promise of Your Word
You are faithful to forgive that in freedom I might live
So I stand on ev’ry promise of Your Word
Guilt to innocence restored
You remember sins no more
So I’ll stand on ev’ry promise of your Word

3. When I’m faced with anguished choice, I will listen for Your voice
And I’ll stand on every promise of Your Word
Through this dark and troubled land
You will guide me with Your hand
As I stand on ev’ry promise of Your Word
And You’ve promised to complete
Ev’ry work begun in me
So I’ll stand on ev’ry promise of Your Word

4. Hope that lifts me from despair, love that casts out ev’ry fear
As I stand on every promise of Your Word
Not forsaken not alone for the Comforter has come
And I stand on ev’ry promise of Your Word
Grace sufficient grace for me
Grace for all who will believe
We will stand on ev’ry promise of Your Word

Words and Music by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty
Copyright © 2005 Thankyou Music

I like the turn of phrase in verse 3, anguished choice. And here is an example of how repeating one line can be done effectively, as the rest of the lyrics give us examples of when, how and why we can stand on every promise of His Word. This is a neat song to sing about the sufficiency of Scripture.

Of the two videos out there, Cheryl prefers the Stuart Townend one (complete with trombone, fiddle and accordion!):

Stuart Townend and Mission Worship:

And now, O Lord GOD, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant.
– 2 Samuel 7:28, ESV