Hebrews 13:15, "By Him (Jesus Christ) let us offer the sacrifice of praise continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name."

The following hymn story is by Don Hustad, a member (at the time this story was written) of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

"When Thomas Ken was a student in the cathedral school at Winchester, England in 1650, that institution was already nearly 300 years old! His day of classes, study and worship began at five o'clock in the morning; in the summer the sun was just breaking through, but in the winter it was still very dark. How hard it was to get out of their "truckle beds" in the cold dormitory, and then to participate in "morning prayers" and a hymn--all before breakfast. In those days, as had been the custom for those 300 years, the boys sang the Latin hymn Jam lucis orto sidere, "Now the daylight fills the sky."

"A few years later, Ken returned to Winchester as a Fellow in the College and a member of the Cathedral staff. By this time English was largely replacing Latin for worship and the young teacher wrote a book of prayers and hymns for the boys to use. He added the recommendation that they "be sure to sing the morning and evening hymn in their chamber devoutly."

"Ken's morning hymn began: "Awake, my soul, and with the sun thy daily stage of duty run." He must have remembered his own school days when he urged: "Shake off dull sloth, and joyful rise to pay thy morning sacrifice." . . . As we read in Hebrews 13:15, "By Him (Jesus Christ) let us offer the sacrifice of praise continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name."

"Perhaps early morning is the very best time for us to worship God privately. Throughout the night, though we have been asleep, the angels have continued to praise God as the second stanza suggests. In Revelation 4:8, heavenly beings are spoken of who "rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come." Certainly it is appropriate that after we have rested through the night, we should join the angels in worship. Our first thoughts should be of our heavenly Father; our first conversation should be with Him."

"An early morning prayer, Bible reading and even a hymn can determine the quality of the entire day ahead. When we seek the face of God before we see other faces, even those of our own family, somehow the day is off to a better start."

"As we pray, we should acknowledge that the new day is God's and that we are His for this day. We should echo Thomas Ken's petition . . . that God shall "direct and control" all that we think or do or say, so that all our physical, mental and spiritual "powers might unite" -- that is, might be focused and coordinated to the glory of God."

* * * * *

Awake, my soul, and with the sun
thy daily stage of duty run;
Shake off dull sloth, and joyful rise
To pay thy morning sacrifice.

Wake, and lift up thyself, my heart,
And with the angels bear thy part,
Who all night long unwearied sing
High praise to the Eternal King.

Direct, control, suggest, this day,
All I design, or do, or say;
That all my powers, with all their might,
In Thy sole glory may unite.

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Thomas Ken (1637-1711)