Seniors that want to strengthen their bonds with God and their fellow believers this summer may find the perfect way to do both in their next worship service. Singing hymns and praise songs, as an individual and a group, has the extraordinary ability to propel believers into the presence of God and unify their hearts as the Body of Christ.
Here at Bethesda Gardens assisted living community in Arlington, we love singing with our residents and schedule a calendar activity with hymns each Sunday morning after church services with Diane.
We also know how meaningful hymns can be during a believers' day-to-day life, providing comfort and reducing stress. For this reason, we encourage seniors to worship on their own as well and enjoy the positive impact it can have on their lives.
There are thousands of poetic and powerful hymns in existence today, but here are six that seniors might want to consider adding to their playlist.
This sweet song reminds Christians that Jesus hears every one of their prayers, and he is literally waiting to spend time together with them each day. We see this promise in action in Revelation 3, where Jesus famously declares that he stands at the door of every individual's heart and knocks, waiting for a chance to enter.
Both the hymn's refrain and the Scriptures give a glimpse of the way Jesus loves and treasures his followers. With the gentleness of a shepherd tending lambs, he patiently calls to each person as an individual and, when invited in, offers strength and grace to live by.
In the same way that seniors need to know Jesus is always there to hear their prayers, it's also vital for them to know he's interested in every prayer. The length or topic doesn't matter. He is just as interested in hearing a small plea to find a set of lost keys as he is in joyous praise for a new grandbaby.
One of the most beautiful aspects of God's personality is his desire to be a part of every aspect of his children's lives. Seniors can rest assured that he's always pleased when they involve him in their lives.
From the beginning until its ending verses, the Bible consistently calls us to fix our eyes on Jesus and keep our thoughts and focus on him. By doing so, believers are promised:
Though the benefits of focusing on God are clear, it can be hard to maintain this focus at all times. In the hymn Be Thou My Vision, singers can rely on God to give them the strength to do this, knowing he can and will provide.
My Worth Is Not In What I Own is a fairly new addition to the believers' hymnal, having been released in 2014. Written by Graham A. Kendrick and the Irish singers Keith and Kristyn Getty, the lyrics are simple but profound, declaring that true worth comes from Christ alone.
For older adults, this hymn serves as a wonderful reminder that monetary riches and worldly accolades can't provide real satisfaction. Instead of worrying about their worth, seniors of faith enjoy an equal share of God's blessings, with the opportunity to be adopted into his family and loved for simply being themselves.
Because He Lives has been a favorite song for many fans of Bill and Gloria Gaither since its release in 1971. For senior believers, the fact that Christ rose from the dead and lives forevermore is the cornerstone of faith. By holding onto the promise that Jesus has overcome death and suffering, they can face their current and future circumstances with true hope.
How Great Is Our God is a wonderful song to sing alone and with a group, making it an ideal choice for seniors considering hosting a sing-along or gospel karaoke night in their assisted living apartments.
The lyrics and melody are simple and engaging, so any youth in the family will be able to easily follow along, and the deep meaning behind the words make it a good starting song for the activity.
The worship tune is often paired with the classic hymn How Great Thou Art. Despite being published nearly 120 years apart, the two songs mesh together in a fascinating combination of new and old to create a powerful tribute to God's glory.
There are many ways seniors can enjoy hymns this summer in their assisted living apartments. In addition to YouTube and other video-sharing sites, the internet is home to several on-demand streaming radio stations that focus on gospel music and hymns.
Streaming sites also sometimes have concerts and music categories in their libraries. Seniors that use Tubi or already have a subscription to Netflix and Hulu can look over their catalogs for concerts, musicals or documentaries for more access to hymns.
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