"Jesus Has Lifted Me"

This story falls into the category of "amusingly ironic." Haldor Lillenas was a Nazarene pastor and prolific hymn writer. He wrote the tune for a song by Alfred Barrett, "Let It Be You and I."

The tune made its way to Arthur McKee, an evangelist and editor at the Tabernacle Publishing Company. McKee didn't care for the lyrics, and asked Avis Christiansen to try her hand at writing new words. Some of her hymns are:

It Is Glory Just To Walk With Him...Only Glory By and By...Only One Life...Precious Hiding Place...Victory In Jesus

She wrote new lyrics and the song was published in 1916 in Tabernacle Praises (edited by McKee).

Lillenas was not happy about the change in lyrics, but eventually accepted them when the song became popular. It is the resounding hymn of praise..."Jesus Has Lifted Me."

- J. D. Sherrow
Used by permission
~~~~~
Out of the depths to the glory above,
I have been lifted in wonderful love.
From every fetter my spirit is free -
For Jesus has lifted me!

Refrain
Jesus has lifted me!
Jesus has lifted me!
Out of the night into glorious light,
Yes, Jesus has lifted me!

Out of the world into heavenly rest,
Into the land of the ransomed and blest,
There in the glory with Him I shall be -
For Jesus has lifted me!

Out of myself into Him I adore,
There to hide in His love evermore.
Through endless ages His glory to see -
My Jesus has lifted me!

- Avis M. Christiansen, 1916

Copyright 1918. Renewal 1946 by H. Lillenas. Used by permission.

Copied from “Worship In Song” Copyright © 1972 by Lillenas Publishing Company