Day by Day: The Inspiring Stories behind 175 of the Most-Loved Hymns

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Title: Be Still My Soul

Author: Randy Peterson

Disclaimer: This books was provided to me for free from Tyndale House in exchange for an honest review.

From the Publisher:

Be Still, My Soul is a collection of 175 of the most popular hymns and the stories behind them. Many of these hymns were written out of incredible life experiences—from the heart cry of a repentant slave trader to the renewed hope of a survivor of attempted suicide. In this devotional you’ll discover the stories behind the songs we sing. You’ll experience the passion and joy contained in these hymns’ lyrics and melodies. In addition to the hymn stories, Be Still, My Soul includes the musical score, lyrics, and in-depth biographies of 12 of the most-prolific hymn writers, singers, and composers.

Whether you are new to hymns or have cherished them for a long time, you’ll enjoy this illuminating book on the stories behind some of the most popular hymns you sing in worship.

My Review:

I play piano so I requested this book for the music more than the stories. Because of its format, I have not read the book cover to cover, but I have flipped through it and played many of the hymns and read the accompanying stories. I really have been enjoying this book. The musical score is written in typical hymn fashion so they’re easy to play (and need some frills added to make them sound good!). The stories are inspiring and really cause you to read the words that you’re singing to not just sing them but to understand what they mean.

I had never paid much attention to Day by Day until this book and I realized the depth and truth of the lyrics. We are given the strength and grace for each day, not in excess, but exactly what is needed.

If you love music, especially hymns, you’ll enjoy this book.