Tag Worship Reflection

4 Hymns of Redemption— There Is a Fountain

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

There is a Fountain

Some hymns comfort the heart, and some cleanse it. There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood does both. William Cowper, a man who knew the depths of despair and the fierce mercy of God, wrote this hymn. It is not polished or ornamental. It is honest. It is vulnerable. It is the cry of a soul. The soul has discovered that the only place to find cleansing is at the foot of the cross. It also finds healing there. Hope is found at the foot of the cross too.

Cowper’s words are not theoretical. They rise from a life marked by suffering, doubt, and repeated battles with darkness. And yet, out of that struggle came a powerful declaration of grace. It stands as one of the most profound in all of hymnody. The blood of Christ is not merely symbolic. It is effective, cleansing, restoring, and sufficient. This hymn does not shy away from the cost of redemption. It invites the believer to step into the stream of mercy that flows from Christ’s sacrifice. In that stream, they find a hope that cannot be shaken.

Zechariah 13:1 gives us the anchor:
“On that day there shall be a fountain opened… to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.”
Cowper takes this ancient promise to the foot of Calvary. He reminds us that the fountain is not a metaphor. It is the very life of Christ poured out for us.

As you listen to the piano meditation, let this hymn wash over you. Let it remind you that grace is not fragile. Mercy is not scarce. The cleansing love of Christ is deeper than your failures and stronger than your fears. Let this be a moment of renewal.

Hymn Lyrics: There Is A Fountain

(Public Domain)

There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in his day;
And there may I, though vile as he,
Wash all my sins away.

Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood
Shall never lose its power
Till all the ransomed Church of God
Be saved, to sin no more.

E’er since by faith I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme
And shall be till I die.

When this poor lisping, stammering tongue
Lies silent in the grave,
Then in a nobler, sweeter song
I’ll sing Thy power to save.

Audio Meditation


Let the music draw you into the cleansing, renewing mercy of Christ.

About the Hymnwriter

William Cowper (1731-1800) was a poet of extraordinary sensitivity and depth. His life was marked by profound emotional struggle, yet out of that struggle came hymns of remarkable clarity and hope. There Is a Fountain is one of his greatest works. It is a hymn that testifies to the power of Christ’s blood. This power can cleanse, restore, and sustain. Cowper partnered with John Newton, the author of Amazing Grace. They produced the Olney Hymns, a collection. This collection has shaped Christian worship for generations. His words remind us that God often brings the richest truth out of the deepest valleys.

Benedictional Prayer

May the cleansing love of Christ wash over your heart today.
May His mercy quiet every fear and lift every burden.
May His grace renew your hope and strengthen your steps.
And may the fountain of His salvation flow through every part of your life.
Amen.

WEDNESDAY WORSHIP — Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

There is a reason this 12th‑century hymn still feels fresh. It speaks to the quiet places of the soul where the name of Jesus is not merely remembered but cherished. In a world that trains us to react, hurry, and brace ourselves, this hymn slows the heart. It reminds us that the very thought of Christ carries a sweetness the world cannot manufacture and a peace the world cannot steal.

John 16:33 anchors that truth: “In this world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” The hymn doesn’t pretend life is gentle. It simply insists that Jesus is greater. His presence becomes the steadying force beneath every storm, the joy that rises even when circumstances don’t change, and the rest that settles over a weary mind. The hymn’s language of sweetness and gladness isn’t poetic exaggeration — it’s the lived experience of those who have discovered Christ as their peace.

As you listen to the piano rendition below, let it become a moment of stillness. Let the melody lift your attention toward the One who has already overcome the world. Let the name of Jesus — spoken, whispered, or simply remembered — become the place where your heart rests today.

Hymn Lyrics: Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee

(Public Domain)

1.
Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills my breast;
But sweeter far Thy face to see,
And in Thy presence rest.

2.
Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find
A sweeter sound than Jesus’ Name,
The Savior of mankind.

3.
O hope of every contrite heart,
O joy of all the meek,
To those who fall, how kind Thou art;
How good to those who seek.

4.
But what to those who find? Ah, this
Nor tongue nor pen can show;
The love of Jesus — what it is,
None but His loved ones know.

5.
Jesus, our only joy be Thou,
As Thou our prize wilt be;
Jesus, be Thou our glory now,
And through eternity.

Audio Meditation

Take a moment to breathe, quiet your heart, and listen to this piano meditation on the hymn.

Jesus the Very Thought of Thee: Whispers of Worship: Hymns from the Piano Bench

About the Hymnwriter

This hymn is traditionally attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux, a 12th‑century monk known for his deep devotion to Christ and his gift for writing that stirred the heart toward worship. Bernard wasn’t interested in fame or poetry for its own sake; he wrote out of a life shaped by prayer, humility, and a longing for the presence of Jesus. His words have endured for centuries because they carry the fragrance of someone who truly loved the Lord.

Benedictional Prayer

May the name of Jesus steady your heart today. May His peace meet you in the places where life feels heavy, and may His joy rise quietly within you like a light that cannot be dimmed. As you go, may the very thought of Christ draw you into deeper rest, deeper trust, and deeper love. And may the One who has overcome the world keep you in His perfect peace, now and always. Amen.