Blessed Assurance
Words: Fanny Crosby, 1873 · Tune: Phoebe Knapp, 1873 · Public domain
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Verse 1
DBlessed assurance, GJe-Dsus Gis Dmine!
DO what a fore-Ataste of Eglo-Ary Edi-Avine!
DHeir of salvation, Gpur-Dchase Gof DGod,
Dborn of his GSpir-Emit, Dwashed A7in Ahis Dblood.
Refrain (after every verse)
DThis is my story, Gthis is my Dsong,
Dpraising my GSav-Dior Aall the Eday Along;
Athis is A7my Dstory, Gthis Dis Gmy Dsong,
Dpraising my EmSavior Dall A7the Aday Dlong.
Verse 2
DPerfect submission, Gper-Dfect Gde-Dlight,
Dvisions of rap-Ature now Eburst Aon Emy Asight;
Dangels descending, Gbring Dfrom Ga-Dbove
Dechoes of Gmer-Emcy, Dwhis-A7pers Aof Dlove.
Verse 3
DPerfect submission, Gall Dis Gat Drest,
DI in my Sav-Aior am Ehap-Apy Eand Ablest;
Dwatching and waiting, Glook-Ding Ga-Dbove,
Dfilled with his Ggood-Emness, Dlost A7in Ahis Dlove.
Chords in the key of D
- D
- G
- A
- E
- Em
- A7
About this hymn
- Words
- Fanny J. Crosby, 1873
- Music
- ASSURANCE, Phoebe Palmer Knapp, 1873
- Meter
- 9.10.9.9 with refrain
- In
- 1,285 hymnals
- Scripture
- Hebrews 10:19-23, Romans 8, 1 John 3:1-6
The story
The tune came first on this one. Phoebe Palmer Knapp played a new melody for Fanny Crosby and asked her what it said. Crosby answered with the opening line, and that was the hymn. It happened at Knapp's home, while a pipe organ was being installed there. Both words and tune are dated 1873. The earliest printing we know of is the July 1873 issue of Palmer's Guide to Holiness, with the full text and a piano score. It went into John Sweney's Gems of Praise that same year, then spread through Ira Sankey's books and the revival meetings. In the next century, Billy Graham's crusades carried it further still.
It is printed in the African American Heritage Hymnal and in Lead Me, Guide Me, the Black Catholic hymnal.
Where it fits in a service
Often used at a testimony service, during offering, and as a closing song. It also fits an altar call, since the refrain comes back around easily and the congregation can stay in it.
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This hymn in three keys, and 49 more
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