February 29

Death is swallowed up in victory. O deaths where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Thanks he to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:54-57.

O gracious Lord, I know and receive thee as my Redeemer, and rely on thy death in some measure; but alas! I do not know thee yet as I ought, and am far from being strong and firm enough, since I am frightened still at the thoughts of death. Grant, therefore, that by all thy providences, trials, and deliverances, I may be so established in faith on thy word, as to prevail against all darkness and fears; that at last I may be enabled with humble boldness, to look death in the face, and really find it swallowed up in victory by thy meritorious death.

O for an overcoming faith
To cheer my dying hours;
To triumph over the monster Death,
And all his frightful powers.

Joyful with all the strength I have,
My quivering lips should sing,
’ Where is thy boasted victory, grave? ’
’ And where ’the monster’s sting? "

If sin be pardoned, I’m secure,
Death has no sting beside;
The law gives sin its damning power;
But Christ, my ransom, died.

Now to the God of victory
Immortal thanks be paid,
Who makes us conquerors while we die
Through Christ, our living head