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And may the promise of Advent be yours this day and always.

Father, I know that all my life

Representative Text

1 Father, I know that all my life
is portioned out for me;
the changes that are sure to come
I do not fear to see:
I ask thee for a present mind,
intent on pleasing thee.

2 I would not have the restless will
that hurries to and fro,
seeking for some great thing to do
or secret thing to know;
I would be treated as a child,
and guided where to go.

3 I ask thee for the daily strength,
to none that ask denied,
a mind to blend with outward life,
while keeping at thy side,
content to fill a little space,
if thou be glorified.

4 In service which thy will appoints
there are no bonds for me;
my secret heart is taught the truth
that makes thy children free;
a life of self-renouncing love
is one of liberty.

Source: Trinity Psalter Hymnal #500

Author: Anna Letitia Waring

See also in: Hymn Writers of the Church… Go to person page >

Notes

Father, I know that all my life. Anna L. Waring. [Resignation.] First published in her Hymns and Meditations, 1850, No. 1, in 8 stanzas of 6 lines, and headed, "My times are in Thy hand." (Enlarged edition 1863-1871.) One of the first, if not the first, hymn-book to bring it into common use, was the Leeds Hymn Book, 1853, No. 892. Since then it has passed into numerous collections in Great Britain and America. Although faulty, and awkward in rhythm, it has attained to a considerable circulation, its deep devotional spirit and intense personality being very attractive to many. Although best adapted for private reading, it is suitable, under special circumstances, for congregational use. In the American Unitarian Hymn [<& Tune] Book for the Church and the Home, Boston, 1868, No. 224, stanza v., vii., viii., are given in an altered form as:—" I ask Thee for the daily strength:" stanzas i.-iv. being given as No. 223.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

================

Father, I know that all my life, p. 367, ii. The hymn "I know, my Father, all my life," in Stryker's Church Song, 1889, is an altered form of this hymn.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)

===================

Father, I know that all my life, p. 367, ii. Appeared in a Selection of Scripture Poetry, edited by L. Squire, 1848, p. 124.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 100 of 230)

A School Service Book #d36

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A Selection of Hymns #447

Australian Hymn Book #501

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Book of Worship (Rev. ed.) #79

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Book of Worship with Hymns and Tunes #483

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Book of Worship #79

Carmina for Social Worship #d53

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Carmina for the Sunday School and Social Worship #174

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Carmina Sanctorum, a selection of hymns and songs of praise with tunes #469

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Carmina Sanctorum #469

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Christian Praise #365

Christian Worship and Praise #d91

Church and University Hymns #d43

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Church Hymnal #430

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Church Hymnal, Mennonite #412

Church Hymnal, Mennonite #412

Church Hymnal, Mennonite #d124

Church Hymnal, Third Edition #660

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Church Hymns and Tunes #292

Church Music, a Collection of Hymn Tunes. #d35

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Common Praise #340

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Favorite Hymns #XXXVI

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Fellowship Hymns #220a

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Fellowship Hymns #220b

Full Salvation Hymnal #d36

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Gloria Deo #426

Gospel Hymns #d114

Hymn and Tune Book for the Church and the Home and Services for Congregational Worship. Rev. ed. #d147

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Hymn and Tune Book for the Church and the Home. (Rev. ed.) #502

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Hymn and Tune Book of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South (Round Note Ed.) #544

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Hymn and Tune Book, for the Church and the Home #223

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Hymn Book for Christian Worship #553

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Hymn Book for Christian Worship. 8th ed. #a553

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Hymn Book of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South #544

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Hymnal Amore Dei #308

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Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church #697

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Hymnal for the Sunday School #103

Hymnal for the Sunday School. Rev. #d39

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Hymnal of the Methodist Episcopal Church #675

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Hymnal of the Methodist Episcopal Church #675

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Hymnal of the Presbyterian Church #214

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Hymnal of the Presbyterian Church in Canada #187

Hymnal of the Presbyterian Church in Canada with Accompanying Tunes #d72

Hymnal of the Reformed Episcopal Church, adopted in General Council, Chicago, May 1879 #d60

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Hymnal, Amore Dei #308

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Hymnal, Amore Dei. Rev. ed. #a308

Text

Hymns and Meditations #1

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Hymns and Songs for Social and Sabbath Worship #462

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Hymns and Songs for Social and Sabbath Worship. (Rev. ed.) #462

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Hymns and Songs of Praise for Public and Social Worship #806

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Hymns for All Christians #L23

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Hymns for all Christians #223

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Hymns for First-Day Schools #1

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Hymns for First-Day Schools (Rev. and Enl.) #1

Hymns for Schools and Families #d129

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Hymns for the Church #193

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Hymns for the Church of Christ (3rd thousand) #603

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Hymns for the Church of Christ. (6th thousand) #603

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Hymns for the Church on Earth #135

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Hymns for the Living Age #297

Hymns for Use in Divine Worship ... Seventh-Day Adventists #d278

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Hymns of Consecration and Faith #124

Hymns of Devotion #d41

Hymns of the Ages #d30

Hymns of the Christian Life #d83

Hymns of the Christian Life #d82

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Hymns of the Christian Life #317

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Hymns of the Christian Life. No. 3 #186

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Hymns of the Church Militant #419

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Hymns of the Church Universal #385

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Hymns of the Church #393

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Hymns of the Kingdom of God #242

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Hymns of the Kingdom of God #242

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Hymns of the Kingdom of God #242

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Hymns of the Living Church #192

Hymns of the Saints #457

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Hymns of the Spirit #404

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Hymns of the United Church #313

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Hymns of the United Church #313

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Hymns of Worship and Service #270

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Hymns of Worship and Service (15th ed.) #270

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Hymns of Worship and Service (Chapel Ed., 4th ed.) #190

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Hymns of Worship and Service #270

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Hymns of Worship and Service #193

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Hymns of Worship and Service. (Chapel ed.) #193

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In Excelsis for School and Chapel #150

In Excelsis for School and Chapel. l7th ed. #d53

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In Excelsis #434

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In Excelsis #a434

Jubilate Deo #259

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Laudamus #265

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Laudes Domini #692

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Living Hymns #438

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Manual for the chapel of Girard College #41

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Many Voices; or, Carmina Sanctorum, Evangelistic Edition with Tunes #337

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Methodist Hymn and Tune Book #496

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Missionary Hymnal #59

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New Baptist Hymnal #60

Pages

Exclude 222 pre-1979 instances
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