Never Cease to Praise – Jeff Bourque

Back before Easter our church commissioned a new Durham church, SoDu, and one of the songs we sang that day was this one by Jeff Bourque.  He is a worship pastor near Nashville and a friend of my husband.  I didn’t know it that well the first time, two weeks later, I wept through it hardly able to get the words out, and since then I’ve sung it as one of my new favorite songs.  The words are challenging and exhortational!

May we run this race, may we keep the faith; may our eyes be fixed on Jesus –

That we’ll not lose heart in our struggle with sin, and through suffering know endurance.

May we arm ourselves with the mind of Christ to rejoice in trials and be not surprised.

May our hearts be so consumed by You that we never cease to praise.

May our company be the saints You’ve called may we all stand firm in one spirit –

That the gospel’s truth may resound on earth, that all living things may hear it.

May the fruits of faith mark the path we trod through the life of Christ, to the glory of God.

May our hearts be so consumed by You that we never cease to praise.

May the words we share be Your grace and peace, may our tongues speak Your proclamations –

That the many parts of the body of Christ be affirmed in their right relation.

As we long and wait for the groom to come, may we learn to love, and spur each other on.

May our hearts be so consumed by You that we never cease to praise.

When that day arrives, and the race is won, when our griefs give way to deliverance,

We will fully know, as we’re fully known all our groans will end as new songs begin,

And a multitude from every tribe and tongue wearing robes of white, will stand before Your throne

And our hearts will be so consumed by You that we’ll never cease to praise!

Written by Jeff Bourque.  2004 Universal Music Corp. / Cumberland Belle Music (ASCAP).