5/17 Hymn - "God Will Take Care of You"

Be not dismayed whate’er betide,
God will take care of you;
Beneath His wings of love abide,
God will take care of you.

God will take care of you,
Through every day, over all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.

Through days of toil when heart doth fail,
God will take care of you;
When dangers fierce your path assail,
God will take care of you.

God will take care of you,
Through every day, over all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.

All you may need He will provide,
God will take care of you;
Nothing you ask will be denied,
God will take care of you.

God will take care of you,
Through every day, over all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.

No matter what may be the test,
God will take care of you;
Lean, weary one, upon His breast,
God will take care of you.

God will take care of you,
Through every day, over all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.

BIBLE REFERENCE: John 14:14 1 Corinthians 10:13 James 1:18

Lyrics: Civilla Durfee Martin Born: August 21, 1866, Jordan, Nova Scotia, Canada
Died: March 9, 1948, Atlanta, Georgia

Composer: Walter Stillman Martin Born: 1862, Rowley, Massachusetts
Died: December 16, 1935, Atlanta, Georgia

HYMN HISTORY: This popular hymn of spiritual encouragement was written, in 1904, by Mr. and Mrs. Stillman Martin. It was composed while the Martins were spending several weeks as guest at the Practical Bible Training School at Lestershire, New York, where Mr. Martin was involved in helping the president of the school, John A. Davis, prepare a songbook. The Reverend W. Stillman Martin, a well-known Baptist evangelist, was invited to preach at a church some distance from the Bible school. That Sunday morning, Mrs. Martin became suddenly ill, making it impossible for her to accompany her husband to his preaching engagement. Mr. Martin seriously considered cancelling his speaking assignment, since it would be needful for him to be gone from her for a considerable time. Just then, however, their young son spoke up and said, “Father, don’t you think that if God wants you to preach today, He will take care of Mother while you are away?” Agreeing, Mr. Martin kept his preaching appointment, and the service proved to be unusually blessed of God, with several people professing Christ as Savior as a result of the sermon.

Returning later that evening, Mr. Martin found his wife greatly improved in health, and while he was gone she had, in fact, been busily engaged in preparing a new hymn text, inspired by the chance remark of their young son earlier that day. That same evening, Stillman Martin composed the music for his wife’s words just as they are still sung today. The next year, this hymn appeared in a collection, Songs of Redemption and Praise, compiled for the school by W. S. Martin and President John Davis. “God Will Take Care of You” soon became a favorite hymn of Christian people everywhere.

Civilla Durfee Martin was born on August 21, 1866, in Nova Scotia. She taught school and studied music for a time before marrying Dr. Martin. Following their marriage, she traveled and aided him greatly in his ministry and evangelistic campaigns. Together they collaborated in writing a number of gospel songs. Of this song, Civilla Martin said: "I was confined to a sick bed in a Bible school in Lestershire, New York. My husband was spending several weeks at the school, making a songbook for the president of the school. “God Will Take Care of You” was written one Sunday afternoon while my husband went to a preaching appointment. When he returned I gave the words to him. He immediately sat down to his little Bilhorn organ and wrote the music. That evening he and two of the teachers sang the completed song. It was then printed in the songbook he was compiling for the school." Mrs. Martin is also know for writing the popular, gospel song text “His Eye Is On the Sparrow,” in which she collaborated with Charles Gabriel.

One of the lessons that any Christian leader soon realizes in ministering of God’s people is that all believers need much encouragement and comfort from time to time. This hymn has been greatly used of God for this purpose. 1 Peter 5:6-7 Psalms 46:10 Ephesians 6:16

There is One who cares for you. God's eye is fixed on you, His heart beats with mercy towards you and His all powerful hand will bring you the needed help you need. The darkest cloud shall rain on you showers of mercy. The blackest gloom shall give place to the morning light.

God, if you are truly a Christian, will bind up your wounds, and heal your broken heart. Doubt not His grace while you are being tested, but believe that He loves you as much in seasons of trouble as in times of happiness.

What a victorious life you can lead if you submit to the providence of God! With a little oil in the cruse, and a handful of meal in the barrel, Elijah outlived the famine, and God will do the same for you. 1 Kings 17:16

If God cares for you, why need you care too? Can you trust Him for your soul, and not for your body?

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