A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

 I think we often wonder the history behind many of our great hymns of the faith, and I thought that this would be a fitting time to share the story behind one of the most well-known hymns of all time: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. In honor of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation this year, composer/arranger Dan Forrest has written a stirring rendition of this hymn, even including the sound effects of the nails being driven into the church doors at Wittenburg by Martin Luther on October 31, 1517. Interestingly enough, Luther penned these lines while in the midst of a tremendous personal battle with depression - something he struggled with his whole life. It is a precious reminder that the truth of the Gospel is our only hope in a world fraught with sin and suffering. I invite you to take a few minutes to listen to the Luther's famous hymn and to allow its stirring words to give hope to your soul all these centuries later...

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing;
Our Helper He amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great,
And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide?
Our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God's own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth His name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim,
We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure,
For lo! his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers,
No thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Through Him who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also;
The body they may kill:
God's truth abideth still;
His kingdom is forever!



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