Go Down, Moses!: Daily Devotions Inspired by Old Negro Spirituals

Excerpt

DAY 1

Genesis 1-2
"A Little Talk wid Jesus Makes It Right"

1 O, A little talk wid Jesus, makes it right, all right;
Little talk wid Jesus makes it right, all right.
Lord, troubles of ev'ry kind,
Thank God, I'll always find,
Dat a little talk wid Jesus makes it right.

2 My brother, I remember when I was a sinner lost,
I cried "Have mercy Jesus,"
       But still my soul was toss'd;
`Til heard King Jesus say,
"Come here, I am de way;"
An' a little talk wid Jesus, makes it right.

3 Sometimes de forked lightnin',
       an' mutterin' thunder too,
Of trials an' tem'-tation make it hard
       for me an' you,
But Jesus, is our fr'en', He'll keep us to de en'
An' a little talk wid Jesus, makes it right.
(Johnson and Johnson 1926, 74)

Prayer Focus: Lord, thank you for listening to my caresand troubles and for being my Friend. Help to be agood listener?both to you and to others.

BIOY: Genesis 1-3 (1/364)

DAY 2

Proverbs 1
"A Little Talk With Jesus"

1 BROTHER, pray, brother, pray,
May the Lord help you pray,
And a little talk with Jesus makes it right,
All right, (All right,) All right, (All right,)
And a little talk with Jesus makes it right.

2 Leader, pray, leader, pray, ...

3 Sister, pray, sister, pray, ...

4 Elder, pray, elder, pray, ...

5 Deacon, pray, deacon, pray, ...

6 Preacher, pray, preacher, pray, ...
(Boatner and Townsend 1927, 15)

Prayer Focus: Lord, thank you for listening to me again.Now I want to listen to you. Help me to be a better listeneras we pray (talk) each day.

BIOY: Genesis 4-6 (2/363)

DAY 3

Genesis 3-4
"A New Hiding Place"

1 OH, the rocks and the mountains shall all flee away,
And you shall have a new hiding place that day.
Seeker, seeker, give up your heart to God,
And you shall have a new hiding place that day.

2 Doubter, doubter, give up your heart to God, ...

3 Mourner, mourner, give up your heart to God, ...

4 Sinner, sinner, give up your heart to God, ...

5 Mother, mother, give up your heart to God, ...

6 Children, children, give up your heart to God, ...
(Boatner and Townsend 1927, 47)

Prayer Focus: Lord, thank you for protecting me fromdangers seen and unseen. I don't want to run or hidefrom you ever again.

BIOY: Genesis 7-9 (3/362)

DAY 4

Proverbs 2
"Ain't Dat Good News?"

1 GOT a crown up in de Kingdom, (Leader)
ain't dat good news? (Response)
Got a crown up in de Kingdom,
ain't dat good news?

All: I'm a-goin' to lay down dis world,
Goin' to shoulder up mah cross,
Goin' to take it borne to Jesus,
ain't dat good news?

2 Got a harp in de Kingdom, ...

3 Got a robe in de Kingdom, ...

4 Got a slippers in de Kingdom, ...

5 Got a Savior in de Kingdom, ...
(Songs of Zion 1981, 114)

Prayer Focus: Thank you, God, for the gift of eternallife through Christ Jesus. That's Good News!

BIOY: Genesis 10-13 (4/361)

DAY 5

Genesis 5-6
"Ain't You Glad?"

1 AIN'T you glad you got a hiding place?
Ain't you glad you got a hiding place?
Ain't you glad you got a hiding place,
       `Way over in the promised land?

2 My Lord gave me that hiding place, ...

3 Ev'ry Christian's got a hiding place, ...

4 There is no dying in that hiding place, ...
(Boatner and Townsend 1927, 66)

Prayer Focus: It's going to rain, it's going to rain, andGod's going to destroy the earth with fire next time.Lord, thank you for preparing an ark of safety for me.Sail me safely over the great white throne of judgment,far beyond the lake of fire and into the eternal promisedland. Thank you for grace and mercy. Thank you forhiding me in the shadow of your love.

BIOY: Genesis 14-16 (5/360)

DAY 6

Proverbs 3
"All God's Chillun Got Wings"
(I've Got a Robe)

1 I GOT a robe, you got a robe,
All o' God's Chillun got a robe.
When I get to heab'n
I'm goin' to put on my robe,
I'm goin' to shout all ovah God's Heab'n,
Heab'n, Heab'n
Ev'rybody talkin' 'bout heab'n ain't goin' dere;
Heab'n, Heab'n,
I'm goin' to shout all ovah God's Heab'n.

2 I got-a wings, ... put on my wings, ... fly ...

3 I got a harp, ... take up my harp, ... play ...

4 I got shoes, ... put on my shoes, ... walk ...
(Johnson and Johnson 1925, 71)

Prayer Focus: Lord, I trust you. Thank you for directingmy paths, for your correction, and for your promiseof riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

BIOY: Genesis 17-19 (6/359)

DAY 7

Genesis 7-8
"All I Do, de Church Keep a-Grumblin'"

ALL I do, de church keep a grumblin',
All I do, Lord, all I do.
All I do, de church keep a grumblin,
All I do, I do, I do,
Yes, all I do, Lord, all I do.

1 Try my bes' for to serve my Master,
Try my bes' for to serve my Lord;
Try my bes' for to serve my Master,
Hallelujah.

2 Try my bes' for to foller my Leader, ...

3 Kneel an' pray so de devil won't harm me, ...

4 I'm gwine cling to de ship o' Zion, ...
(Johnson and Johnson 1926, 130)

Prayer Focus: Lord, thank you for saving me. I love youand will do my best to trust and obey you always.

BIOY: Genesis 20-22 (7/358)

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