Chief
Chief of Sinners.
Composer: Fanny Crosby
1 ’Tis the blessèd hour of prayer, when our hearts lowly bend,
And we gather to Jesus, our Saviour 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:
Blessèd hour of prayer,
Blessèd hour of prayer;
What a balm for the weary!
O how sweet to be there!
2 ’Tis the blessèd 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! (Refrain)
3 ’Tis the blessèd hour of prayer, when the tempted and tried
To the Savior Who loves them their sorrow confide;
With a sympathizing heart He removes every care;
What a balm for the weary! O how sweet to be there! (Refrain)
4 At the blessèd hour of prayer, trusting Him we believe
That the blessing 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! (Refrain)
Story behind the song
Fanny Crosby emphasized the significance of prayer in her life and creative process. Her grandmother had taught her the importance of prayer and seeking God's will. When tasked with writing hymns on demand, Crosby would pray for inspiration and work towards establishing the right mindset. She believed that starting her work with prayer was essential. "Tis the blessed hour of prayer," a hymn written in 1880, was composed by Crosby and set to music by her collaborator William Howard Doane. Their professional relationship was also evident in other hymns such as "Draw Me Nearer" and "To God Be the Glory." The hymn was first published in a book called "Good As Gold" in 1880, with the melody commonly known as BLESSED HOUR.