The older I get, the more I realize—well, I’m just getting older.

Aches, pains and the occasional involuntary groan have become part of my daily soundtrack. But growing older has its gifts too. One of them is a deepening appreciation for what I like to call the spiritual golden oldies.

Don’t get me wrong—there are plenty of beautiful, modern worship songs out there. Many are well-produced, catchy and even moving. But let’s be honest: a lot of them are like cotton candy. Sweet for a moment, but quickly gone—light on spiritual substance. In fact, many contemporary songs that claim to be “Christian” often sound more like vague love ballads. Is it about Jesus, or someone’s boo? Hard to tell sometimes.

And let’s not even get started on the increasing trend of me-centered lyrics rather than God-focused worship. (Okay, I started… but I digress.)

Then there are the classics—the songs that have anchored generations in faith:

“We’ll Understand It Better By and By.”
“Amazing Grace.”
“How Great Thou Art.”
“Blessed Assurance.”

These are spiritual meat and potatoes—nourishing, timeless and deeply rooted in truth.

One hymn that wasn’t part of my early spiritual upbringing, but has become a favorite in recent years, is Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.

The very title is an invitation—to the only true source of lasting blessing.

Come Thou Fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace
Streams of mercy, never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise

It doesn’t get much better than that.

Where has this song been all my adult life?

The lyrics speak to something profoundly human: our tendency to look everywhere else before turning to the One we know is real. Let’s be honest—when we’re truly thirsty, nothing satisfies like water. Not tea, not coffee, not energy drinks or wine. Just water.

This hymn echoes that truth. It’s an honest prayer—one that recognizes our weakness and pleads for God’s help.

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above

These words hit home. They resonate because they’re real. They speak to our spiritual drift—and our longing to return.

If you haven’t listened to Come Thou Fount in a while (or ever), I invite you to do so. Let the words soak in. Let them tune your heart.

And as the final line swells, may it become your prayer too:

Here’s my heart
O take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above.

There truly is nothing like a spiritual golden oldie.

Categories: Acts17seventeen

Tagged as: Bible Christ follower Christian Christianity citychurchofsacramento faith Faith in God god Jesus Prayer

Pastor Mark

Mark, the eighth of nine children born to Reuben and Henrietta Meeks—dedicated church planters with nearly 30 congregations established across California’s Central Valley—is a preacher's kid who grew up immersed in faith and service. With over forty years of experience teaching, discipling, and ministering to communities, including the hospitalized and incarcerated, Mark responded to God's call to pastoral ministry. He holds degrees in civil engineering and public administration, as well as a Master’s in Theology from Fuller Seminary, equipping him to serve with both practical insight and spiritual depth.