A Good Old Song

When I was in university, this song was sung almost everytime during exam period. I guess, during those days, exams were the kind of trials that students (in Singapore especially) faced most. And being in competitive Singapore, it's so easy to ignore God and let human nature kicks in. Practically, it makes sense that we should just look to one's own benefits -- coop oneself up and spend all the time one has to study for exams, rather than to take time off to write some encouragement cards, prepare and send some supper to friends oreven just to pause to pray for another. So somehow one of the worship leaders during the exam sunset prayer meetings would eventually choose this song. Semesters after semesters, from seniors to juniors, this song was passed on through 8 semesters and the 4 years I was in campus.

I'm not sure if this good old song is still sung among the christian students today. Maybe the current generation is ministered by a different genre of music. But I thought the lyrics of this song remains meaningful and true.

As I grow older, exams have become but a small fraction of our human life.

There are still many other tough times in the course of our life journey. Would we continue to thank God for the trials that come our way and let Him lead us onward to the way of victory?

Thank You, Lord - Dan Burgess

感謝主， Thank you Lord
因我所遇的試煉， for the trials that come my way
使我生命更加成熟， In that way I can grow each day
當祢引領我。 as I let You lead.

感謝主， And thank You, Lord,
試煉賦予我忍耐， for the patience those trials bring,
在那成長的日子裏， In that process of growing
讓我去關懷。 I can learn to care.

但事實總背逆我意願，But it goes against the way I am,
難以放棄自我主權， to put my human nature down,
好讓祢聖靈完全充滿引導我。 And let the Spirit take control of all I do.
因當試煉來臨， For when those trials come,
我軟弱本性要我遵從它， my human nature shouts the things to do;
而使我輕易忽略神細聲細語。 And God's soft prompting can be easily ignored.

感謝主， I thank You Lord
每當我歷經試煉， with each trial I feel inside,
你必幫助引導保護， That You're there to help lead and
免我走錯路。 guide me away from wrong.
因祢曾應許，'Cause You promised Lord
每當我心受考驗， that with every testing
祢必為我預備出路，that Your way of escaping
減輕我痛苦。 is easier to bear.

但事實總背逆我意願， But it goes against the way I am
難以放棄自我主權， to put my human nature down,
好讓祢聖靈完全充滿引導我。 And let the Spirit take control of all I do.
因當試煉來臨， For when those trials come,
我軟弱本性要我遵從它， my human nature shouts the thing to do;
而使我輕易忽略神細聲細語。 And God's soft prompting can be easily ignored.

感謝主，I thank You Lord
在那得勝的成長裏， for the victory that growing brings,
在那全然的交托中， In surrender of everything
生命有意義。 life is so worthwhile.
我要感謝主 And I thank You Lord
當一切事各按其所， that when everything's put in place,
你面容就向我顯現， Out in front I can see Your face,
慈聲召我進前。and it's there You belong.

Song and Lyrics Copyright 1978 Bud John Songs Inc.