CHRISTIAN LIFE >> MEDITATION AND PRAYER
SDAH 501
‘Tis the blessed hour of prayer, when our hearts lowly bend,
And we gather to Jesus, our Savior and Friend;
If we come to Him in faith, His protection to share,
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For Worship Leaders
Make each hymn more meaningful with these helpful tools: Short, ready-to-use hymn introductions for church bulletins, multiple ways to introduce a hymn based on your worship theme and in-depth history and insights to enrich your song service.
Hymn Spotlight: ’Tis the Blessed Hour of Prayer
Written by Fanny J. Crosby and composed by William H. Doane, this hymn first appeared in their 1880 collection Good as Gold and reflects Crosby’s deeply personal life of prayer. The text moves through a beautiful progression of trust: we cast our care upon the Lord, then Christ removes our care, and finally, in His presence, we lose all our care. Set to Doane’s gentle, inviting melody, the hymn reminds us that prayer is not merely a duty but a refuge—a place where burdens lift and the heart finds quiet rest in Jesus.
📖 Reference: Feel free to share but please cite hymnsforworship.org when reproducing.
Introductions for Sabbath School Song Service (based on specific lesson quarterlies):
This hymn is one of seven in this hymnal in which the words are by Frances Jane Crosby (1820-1915) and the music by William Howard Doane (1832-1915; for both, see Biographies). The hymn appeared in print in Lowry and Doane’s Good as Gold, 1880, and reflects Fanny Crosby’s own devotional spirit and experience. Notice the progression of thought concerning our “care.” In stanza 2, we cast our care; in the next stanza Christ removes the care; and finally we lose all our care.
📖 Reference: Companion to the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal by Wayne Hooper and Edward E. White. Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1988.
Text
1
‘Tis the blessed hour of prayer, when our hearts lowly bend,
And we gather to Jesus, our Savior and Friend;
If we come to Him in faith, His protection to share,
What a balm for the weary! O how sweet to be there!
Refrain
Blessed hour of prayer, Blessed hour of prayer,
What a balm for the weary! O how sweet to be there!
2
‘Tis the blessed hour of prayer, when the Savior draws near,
With a tender compassion His children to hear;
When He tells us we may cast at His feet every care,
What a balm for the weary! O how sweet to be there!
3
‘Tis the blessed hour of prayer, when the tempted and tried
To the Savior who loves them their sorrows confide;
With a sympathizing heart He removes every care;
What a balm for the weary! O how sweet to be there!
4
‘Tis the blessed hour of prayer, trusting Him we believe,
That the blessings we’re needing we’ll surely receive;
In the fullness of this trust we shall lose every care;
What a balm for the weary! O how sweet to be there!
Hymn Info
Biblical Reference
(a) Acts 3:1; 1 Pet 5:6 (b) 1 Pet 5:7
Author
Fanny J. Crosby (1820-1915)
Year Published
1880
Metrical Number
13.12.13.7.6.Ref.
Composer
William H. Doane (1832-1915)
