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Take Heart—with Dan Kreider

In Fall of 2012, I collaborated with Dan Kreider to write Keep Heart. Dan wrote the music, I wrote the lyrics. Three years later, we are re-releasing it. Dan and I are distributing it through Grace Music, which Dan runs as worship pastor of Grace Immanuel Bible Church, Jupiter, Florida.

Most of the lyrics are the same, but some are changed from its 2012 edition.

I originally wrote these words as an encouragement for suffering Christians. Rather than "lose heart" (2 Corinthians 4), we should "take heart."

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16–18 ESV)

Here are the lyrics to the song:

Take heart, O servants of the Lord,
amid the cloudy journey.
Though shadows seem to shade His Word,
they cannot hide His mercy.
When providence is manifest
in tempests of affliction,
Behind the storm is Jesus Christ:
the Sun of our salvation.

Serve not the dark desires within,
nor wicked foes, nor tempters.
Their subtle lies would lure us in,
but Christ our King will conquer.
We firmly stand in Jesus’ might
against enticing evil:
He dresses us in radiant light—
the armor of His gospel.

We walk by faith and not by sight
while living in this darkness,
But grief will change into delight
when Christ returns in brightness.
Let us take heart until we see
the risen Lamb of suff’ring.
Then we before His throne will be
like Him, forever shining!

Click here to see a piano/vocal score, chord chart, congregational handout, and demo (piano) recording.

See here for a video of Caleb French and I singing the previous edition.

Also, here are some encouraging words from some friends about the hymn.

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