"A Mighty Fortress . . ."

It is said that Martin Luther's Journal entries tell of his great and seemingly continuous battles against the forces of evil. 
I think this quote about his wife's words is very sad:  "Once when Martin Luther was in the depths of despair, his wife dressed herself in mourning clothes.  When he asked her who had died, she answered that she had assumed from his actions that God Himself was dead."

I don't know why he suffered thus, but maybe the devil was trying to discourage, defeat and destroy him to keep him from writing that grand and glorious hymn,  A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, which, after over 500 years, is still thrilling and blessing hearts today!

     "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 pow'r 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 is His
name, From age to age the same, and He must win the battle.

     And tho' 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 en-
dure, For lo!  his doom is sure, one little word shall fell him.

     That word above all earthly pow'rs -- No thanks to them -- abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours thro' 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."

No wonder it was he who said:
     "Music, next to Theology, is God's Greatest Gift to man!"