Traditional Hymns
Blessed Assurance
Blessed Assurance
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Blessed Assurance (.midi)
Blessed Assurance (.mp3)
Blessed Assurance Orchestral version (.mp3) Blessed Assurance Bells Version (.mp3)
1. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.
Refrain: This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long; this is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.
2. Perfect submission, perfect delight, visions of rapture now burst on my sight; angels descending bring from above echoes of mercy, whispers of love. (Refrain)
3. Perfect submission, all is at rest; I in my Savior am happy and blest, watching and waiting, looking above, filled with his goodness, lost in his love. (Refrain)
The story behind Blessed Assurance
"Blessed Assurance" is one of the most beloved hymns in Christian worship, written in the 19th century. Its creation is closely tied to two prominent figures of American hymnody: Fanny J. Crosby (1820–1915) and Phoebe Palmer Knapp (1839–1908).Fanny Crosby, who lost her sight shortly after birth, became one of the most prolific hymn writers in history, composing thousands of hymns over her lifetime. Despite her blindness, Crosby had an extraordinary memory and deep Christian faith, which she expressed through her poetry and hymn texts.
The story behind "Blessed Assurance" begins in 1873. Phoebe Knapp, a gifted musician and the wife of Joseph Fairchild Knapp (a founder of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company), was a close friend of Crosby. One day, Knapp visited Crosby and played a melody she had composed on the piano. After playing it, she asked Crosby, "What does this tune say to you?"
Without hesitation, Crosby replied, "Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!" She then quickly composed the rest of the lyrics, matching the spirit and rhythm of Knapp’s melody.
The hymn’s themes are rooted in Crosby’s own strong belief in salvation and the Christian’s assurance of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. The words celebrate a joyful, unwavering confidence in the promises of God—a message that resonated strongly with many Christians of the era and continues to today.
"Blessed Assurance" was first published in 1873 in the magazine Palmer’s Guide to Holiness and Revival Miscellany. It quickly gained popularity across denominational lines, becoming a staple in hymnals and revivals.
The hymn’s structure follows a traditional verse-chorus format, and the refrain—"This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long"—emphasizes a life of continual worship and testimony.
Quick Facts:
- Lyrics: Fanny J. Crosby
- Music: Phoebe P. Knapp
- Year written: 1873
- First publication: Palmer’s Guide to Holiness and Revival Miscellany
