Love Lifted Me
GodTube Staff
1 I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore,
Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more;
But the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry,
From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.
Refrain:
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help,
Love lifted me.
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help,
Love lifted me.
2 All my heart to Him I give, ever to Him I'll cling,
In his blessed presence live, ever his praises sing.
Love so mighty and so true merits my soul's best songs;
Faithful loving service, too, to Him belongs. [Refrain]
3 Souls in danger, look above, Jesus completely saves;
He will lift you by His love out of the angry waves;
He's the master of the sea, billows His will obey;
He your Savior wants to be, be saved today. [Refrain]
The Story Behind Love Lifted Me
Author James Rowe (1865-1933) was born in England, the son of a copper miner. He immigrated to the United States from Ireland in 1889. He was a railroad worker for ten years in New York before becoming an inspector for the Hudson River Humane Society.
"Love Lifted Me" was written and published in 1912. It gained popularity among United Methodists as one of the frequently sung songs in The Cokesbury Hymnal.
Rowe's text was inspired by two biblical stories. The first is from Matthew 14:22-33, where the disciples were in a boat in the middle of a frightening storm. They saw Jesus walking on the sea. He commanded Peter to join him, and Peter also began walking on the water toward Jesus. The storm scared Peter and he began to sink, calling out to Jesus to save him. Jesus caught Peter by the hand and lifted him up as they got into the boat.
The second story is Matthew 8:23-27, in which Jesus is asleep in the boat while the disciples are alarmed by a powerful storm threatening to throw them all into the sea. They wake Jesus and ask him to help them. Jesus rebukes the storm and the disciplines thank him.
Rowe's hymn masterfully incorporates both stories, using sinking or being swamped into the sea as an illustration for "sinking deep in sin…sinking to rise no more." Jesus, "Master of the sea," hears our pleas for help, reaches out to us in love, and lifts us up into the well being of grace.
Popular Hymn Lyrics with Story and Meaning
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Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Victory over Sinful Thoughts - Your Daily Prayer - July 26
Victory over sinful thoughts starts with dependence upon God to stay free from enslaving sin. It’s a life lived with a surrendered mouth and heart before God. Winning requires us to remember our Rock, who rescues us and gives us a firm standing place, and our Redeemer, who rescues us from total loss.
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