I MUST HAVE THE SAVIOUR WITH ME

Heather Allington

Heather writes for Sunday Song Book on behalf of the The Salvation Army Oshawa. As a lifelong member of the Army, she has loved these familiar - and some less familiar - songs for many years, and enjoys researching and writing about their origins. She is a wife, mother, grandmother and retired elementary school teacher who likes trying her hand at watercolour painting and poetry writing.

I must have the Saviour with me,
For I dare not walk alone;
I must feel His presence near me
And His arm around me thrown.

CHORUS:
Then my soul shall fear no ill;
Let Him lead me where He will,
I will go without a murmur,
And His footsteps follow still.

I must have the Saviour with me,
For my faith at best is weak;
He can whisper words of comfort
That no other voice can speak.

I must have the Saviour with me
In the onward march of life:
Through the tempest and the sunshine,
Through the battle and the strife.

As we begin a new year and new decade, aware of many concerns in our world, let’s follow the example of Fanny Crosby (and countless others!) by focussing on the Lord’s presence with us. After all, He promised to be with us, as recorded in Matthew 28:20, where He said, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Having experienced severe trials in the early part of her life, Fanny Crosby had reason to be worried about her future. As many know, she was blind from infancy as a result of a wrongly-treated infection. Her only child died as an infant. Her marriage did not last. However, Fanny Crosby was well-educated and chose to spend her life ministering to others. Besides her prolific hymn-writing, she was widely admired as an evangelistic speaker. Sometimes lines of people circled the block near a location where she was to speak, as they hoped to get a seat. Those who knew her admired her joy and zest for living. Fanny herself felt that cheerfulness was a priority in life. Let’s “fear no ill” as we trust the Lord’s leading in our lives in the year ahead.