Three poems for reading and prayer

These three Christian poems by Pat Dys speak about faith, wonder, and a life attentive to God’s Word. Read them quietly as poetry or use their suggested hymn tunes to sing them. Each selection below includes the complete poem and identifies the book where you can find it.

I Believe

By Pat Dys, from Heritage Hymns, page 3.

The repeated words “I believe” carry this hymn through its confession of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Read the final stanza after the first and notice how the closing lines return to the opening words.

I believe in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ His Son. I believe in God the Spirit – blessed, holy Three-in-One. I believe in God Almighty, Maker of the heaven and earth. I believe that by the Spirit, Christ was born, a virgin birth.

I believe He greatly suffered, under Pilate, crucified. I believe my Lord was buried, when He suffered hell and died. I believe that on the third day, Jesus broke death’s awful band. He arose, and has ascended, where He sits at God’s right hand.

From that throne He’ll come to judge us, both the living and the dead. I believe in God, the Spirit, sent to us as Jesus said. I believe God has a people, the great church of Christ His Son, Saints from every tribe and nation, in a fellowship of one.

I believe sins are forgiven, and our bodies will arise To a life that is unending, with our Savior in the skies. I believe in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ His Son. I believe in God the Spirit, blessed, holy Three-in-One.

Suggested hymn: “Brethren We Have Met to Worship.” Music: Holy Manna, 8.7.8.7.D., attributed to William Moore.

When you have read it, choose one statement to consider further. Which words would you like to understand more fully? Read with someone who can help you trace that thought in Scripture, or keep the question beside your next reading.

Great Are the Mysteries of God

By Pat Dys, from Heritage Hymns, page 4.

This poem makes room for questions about creation, salvation, and the work of the Spirit. Listen for the change from “We do not know” to the prayer that closes the final stanza.

Great are the mysteries of God our Father. We were not there when worlds were hung in space. We do not know the width of God’s creation, Nor do we know the glories of His face. We do not know the height of all His goodness Nor comprehend the depths of all His grace.

Great are the mysteries of God our Savior. Who understands how He became a man? Who knows the wideness of the love of Jesus, Or all the wonders of salvation’s plan? We do not know how God worked faith within us, Nor when that gracious work of God began.

Great are the mysteries of God the Spirit, Moving like wind in those God calls His own. When we have questions and do not have answers He intercedes for us with wordless groans. O may our faith be vast as all God’s myst’ry As we entrust ourselves to God alone.

Scripture references: Luke 1:34–35; Luke 1:18–19; John 3:7–9; Job 38:1–7; Ephesians 3:14–19; Romans 8:26–28. Suggested hymn: “Be Still My Soul.” Music: Finlandia, 11.10.11.10.11.10., Jean Sibelius.

Read one of the named passages alongside the poem. Where do you hear the connection? Our guide to choosing a hymn for a Scripture passage shows how the book’s Scripture index leads from Romans 8:26–28 to this poem.

Both selections appear in the Heritage Hymns sample, where you can see the printed pages and their tune information.

Psalm 1

By Pat Dys, from Heritage Psalter, page 1.

Read Psalm 1 in your Bible, then read Pat’s poem. This is a devotional response to the Psalm, rather than a translation of it. Notice how the tree, stream, chaff, and paths carry the contrast between the two ways of life.

How blessed is the state of him Who lives a godly life, Who walks not in the sinner’s path, Nor sits with men of strife.

He seeks not counsel from a man But studies day and night The great commandments of the Lord. They are his chief delight.

He shall be planted like a tree Beside the flowing stream That bears its fruit as seasons pass, Whose leaf is ever green.

That man is honored by His God; In him God’s mercies dwell. Whatever things he undertakes, God makes them prosper well.

In contrast to the godly man, The wicked who have sinned Will not be blest, but disappear Like chaff before the wind.

Ungodly men shall surely face A judgment without grace. They will not stand with righteous men Before God’s holy face.

God knows the path of righteousness In which the godly walk. He knows the path of wicked men Will surely come to naught.

Suggested hymn: “How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds.” Tune: St. Peter, C.M., Alexander R. Reinagle.

Return to the biblical Psalm after reading the poem. Take one image at a time and consider its place in the passage. Our guide to reading and singing a Psalm follows this selection from spoken words to its suggested melody.

You can also see the original printed page in the Heritage Psalter sample.

Carry one line into your reading

Read the line that caught your attention once more. Write it down with Pat’s name, the poem’s title, and its book reference if you want to keep it. Leave space for your own question or prayer beneath it.

If you are choosing a collection for yourself or someone else, our guide to Christian poetry books explains the different forms of Pat’s work and what to look for in a sample.