God of Comfort

Heather Allington

Heather writes for Sunday Song Book on behalf of the The Salvation Army Oshawa. As a lifelong member of the Army, she has loved these familiar - and some less familiar - songs for many years, and enjoys researching and writing about their origins. She is a wife, mother, grandmother and retired elementary school teacher who likes trying her hand at watercolour painting and poetry writing.

God of comfort and compassion,
God of wisdom, grace and power,
Hear our earnest intercession
In this quiet evening hour.
Strengthen all who fight Thy battles
In this land and lands afar;
Be companion, friend and shepherd
Whereso’er Thy children are.

Some we love bear heavy burdens,
Some have wandered from the way;
Be their guide, and their deliverer,
Heavenly Father, now we pray.
O’er our world so filled with sorrow,
Fear and hunger, pain and strife,
Shed Thy light of hope and mercy,
Gift of love, eternal life.

Sovereign Lord, we bow before Thee,
Thou art merciful and kind;
Our petitions now presenting,
All we need in Thee we find.
Lord, we seek Thy strength, Thy guidance,
And the Holy Spirit’s dower;
Grant Thy fortitude and courage
In temptation’s threatening hour.

May Thy grace and peace o’ershadow
Those for whom we pray tonight;
May Thy mighty arm uphold them;
They are precious in Thy sight.
Lord, for answered prayer we thank Thee;
Thou art good in all Thy ways;
With thanksgiving we adore Thee;
Fill our hearts with love and praise.

There is much guidance exemplified here on how to pray according to the will of our Heavenly Father. Lt.-Col. Doris Rendell wrote over 100 songs for The Salvation Army Song Book,The Musical Salvationist and other publications. A recurring theme is the request for God’s strength in helping to grow His Kingdom on Earth. Another frequent subject of Rendell’s songs is her prayer for those whose lives are full of suffering and difficulty.

Another frequent subject of Rendell’s songs is her prayer for those whose lives are full of suffering and difficulty. Click To Tweet

Doris Rendell was born in Yorkshire, England in 1896. Her father was an officer who worked with General William Booth in some of his meetings in North Scotland. Doris came to know Jesus as a child. Moving to London, she was active in the Regent Hall Corps, while working in her country’s Ministry of Health. Eventually she became a Salvation Army officer and served in both corps and administrative appointments. She died in 1990, having led a full life, no doubt depending on prayer to nurture and empower her.