The Lord is the strength of my life.
Psalm 27:1
Words: Anonymous. Published in the Church of England Magazine, February 1838, signed Ω Chelsea.
Music: Wessex Edward J. Hopkins, 1869 (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know the author, or where to get a good picture of him (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
Lord of my life! Whose tender care
Hath led me on till now,
Here lowly at the hour of prayer
Before Thy throne I bow;
I bless Thy gracious hand, and pray
Forgiveness for another day.
Oh, may I daily, hourly, strive
In heavenly grace to grow;
To Thee and to Thy glory live,
Dead to all else below;
Tread in the path my Savior trod,
Though thorny, yet the path to God.
With prayer my humble praise I bring
For mercies day by day;
Lord! teach my heart Thy love to sing,
Lord! teach me how to pray;
All that I have, I am, to Thee
I offer, through eternity.
An alternate version, for use with the tune Finland, by Fredrik Pacius (1809–1891) (🔊 pdf nwc):
Lord of my life! Whose tender care
Hath led me on till now,
Here lowly at the hour of evening prayer
Before Thy radiant throne I humbly bow;
I bless Thy gracious hand, and pray
Forgiveness for this day.
Oh, may I daily, hourly, strive
In heav’nly grace to grow;
To Thee and to Thy glory ever live,
Dead to all other earthly things below;
Tread in the path my Savior trod,
Though thorny, yet to God.
With prayers my humble praise I bring
For mercies day by day;
Lord! teach my willing heart Thy love to sing,
Lord! teach me now and ever how to pray;
All that I have, I give to Thee
Through all eternity.
