Scripture Verse

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16

Introduction

portrait
Annie S. Hawks (1835–1918)

Words: An­nie S. Hawks, in Hymns and Tunes for Home Wor­ship (New York: James R. Os­good, 1871), page 829. After writ­ing the lyr­ics, Hawks gave them to her pas­tor, Ro­bert Low­ry, who add­ed the tune and re­frain.

Music: Ro­bert Low­ry (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Robert Lowry (1826–1899)

Background

One day as a young wife and mo­ther of 37 years of age, I was bu­sy with my re­gu­lar house­hold tasks.

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, I Need Thee Ev­ery Hour, were ush­ered in­to my mind, the thought at once tak­ing full pos­ses­sion of me…

I did not un­der­stand at first why this hymn had touched the great throb­bing heart of hu­ma­ni­ty.

It was not un­til long af­ter, when the sha­dow fell ov­er my way, the sha­dow of a great loss, that I un­der­stood som­ething of the com­fort­ing pow­er in the words which I had been pe­rmi­tted to give out to oth­ers in my hour of sweet se­re­ni­ty and peace.

Lyrics

I need Thee ev­ery hour,
Most gra­cious Lord;
No ten­der voice like Thine
Can peace af­ford.

Refrain

I need Thee, O I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
O bless me now, my Sav­ior,
I come to Thee.

I need Thee ev­ery hour,
Stay Thou near­by;
Temptations lose their pow­er
When Thou art nigh.

Refrain

I need Thee ev­ery hour,
In joy or pain;
Come quick­ly and abide,
Or life is vain.

Refrain

I need Thee ev­ery hour;
Teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich pro­mis­es
In me ful­fill.

Refrain

I need Thee ev­ery hour,
Most Ho­ly One;
O make me Thine in­deed,
Thou bless­èd Son.

Refrain