Faith Practice, the Exercise

A Hymn For Meditation

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hymnalHoly Spirit Truth Divine

Holy Spirit, truth divine,
Dawn upon this soul of mine.
Breath of God and inward light
Wake my spirit, clear my sight.

Holy Spirit, love divine,
Glow within this heart of mine,
Kindle every high desire,
Purge me with your holy fire.

Holy Spirit, peace divine,
Still this restless heart of mine;
Speak to calm this tossing sea,
Stayed in your tranquility.

     Samuel Longfellow

  • Genesis 2:7 says that God breathed into man’s nostrils the breath of life. What does this hymn writer equate with the breath of God?
  • The hymnwriter uses other images of the Holy Spirit in this hymn. What are they? Which of the images resonates most closely with your own experience?
  • The Day of Pentecost will be celebrated in most churches this Sunday. How does the imagery of that story differ from the imagery of this hymn? Where is there similarity?
  • Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would be our teacher.  When I first began having daily quiet time for prayer and Bible study, I prayed, “Come, Holy Spirit, and be my teacher.” Where does the hymnwriter reference this aspect of the Holy Spirit?
  • In what ways do you perceive the presence of the Holy Spirit in your daily life? Think about a time when you knew that the Holy Spirit caused you to see or understand something you might otherwise have missed. How do you know when the Holy Spirit is leading you to word or deed?

2 thoughts on “A Hymn For Meditation”

  1. I love this hymn and the meditation. I’ve printed a copy and will use it in my next meditation time. Thank you so much for sharing it with us.

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