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This Sunday we are singing I Need Thee Every Hour as our closing hymn. The text was written in 1872 by Annie Sherwood Hawks (with a little help on the refrain and the music by her pastor, Robert Lowry, who is known better for writing Shall We Gather at the River and How Can I Keep From Singing). Annie Hawks, a young wife and mother at the time she wrote this hymn, composed over 400 hymn texts throughout her life, but this is the only one of hers that is still sung today.
Retelling the story of how she wrote it, Hawks writes, "One day I was busy with my regular household tasks during a bright June morning. Suddenly, I became so filled with the sense of nearness to the Master that, wondering how one could live without Him, either in joy or pain, these words were ushered into my mind, the thought at once taking full possession of me -- 'I Need Thee Every Hour. . . .'"
I need thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like thine can peace afford.
I need thee, O I need thee, every hour I need thee!
O bless me now, my Savior-- I come to thee!
When have you felt the need for God? We've all had times when we feel like life is good and everything is under control... maybe we don't feel we need God so much then... and other times when we fear the worst is going to happen... "God, please fix this, and I promise I'll _________" and we find ourselves bargaining with the Almighty for our desired outcome.
I need thee every hour; stay thou near by;
Temptations lose their power when thou art nigh.
I need thee, O I need thee, every hour I need thee!
O bless me now, my Savior-- I come to thee!
I believe the author of this text is talking about having a connection to God, a closeness that you never want to... or have to be without, for even one hour, once you've experienced it. How does one find this connection?
I need thee every hour; teach me thy will,
And thy rich promises in me fulfill.
I need thee, O I need thee, every hour I need thee!
O bless me now, my Savior-- I come to thee!
Do you make time for prayer? Do you get quiet and listen? How do you know God's voice? Do you make time to read the Bible?
I need thee every hour, Most Holy One;
O make me thine indeed, thou blessed Son.
I need thee, O I need thee, every hour I need thee!
O bless me now, my Savior-- I come to thee!
After worshiping with us this Sunday, after singing four stanzas of this classic hymn, I hope you will think of your need for God, and how the Creator of heaven and earth has drawn near to us, so that we may draw near to him, and share that love with others.
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