Blessed Assurance
Words: Fanny Crosby, 1873 · Tune: Phoebe Knapp, 1873 · Public domain
Verse 1
ABlessed Dassurance, GJesus is Dmine
DOh, what a Bm7foretaste of Gglory divine A
AHeir of Dsalvation, Gpurchase of DGod
DBorn of His GSpirit, Awashed in His Dblood
Chorus
AThis is my Dstory, Gthis is my Dsong
DPraising my BmSavior A7all the day long
A7This is my Dstory, Gthis is my Dsong
DPraising my GSavior Aall the day Dlong
Verse 2
APerfect Dsubmission, Gperfect Ddelight
DVisions of Bm7rapture now Gburst on my Asight
AAngels Ddescending, Gbring from Dabove
DEchoes of Gmercy, Awhispers of Dlove
Verse 3
APerfect Dsubmission, Gall is at Drest
DI, in my Bm7Savior, am Ghappy and Ablest
AWatching and Dwaiting, Glooking Dabove
DFilled with His Ggoodness, Alost in His Dlove
Chords in the key of D
- D
- G
- A
- A7
- Bm7
- Bm
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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