MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE

Ray Palmer was born in 1808 on Rhode Island in the United States.  Due to a family financial difficulty, Ray had to abandon his schooling at age 13 and take a job in Boston.  While there, he attended the historic Park Street Congregational Church, and it was there that he accepted Christ as Saviour.  Sensing the call of God on his life, he soon became a minister of the Gospel. 

The year following his graduation from Yale University in 1830, he became very discouraged as he battled illness and loneliness.  One night, as he read a German poem that depicted a needy sinner kneeling before the cross of Christ, he was deeply moved.  Ray translated the poem into English and subsequently the four stanzas that eventually became the text for our hymn today.

Palmer remembers, and I quote… “The words for these stanzas were born out of my own soul…with very little effort. I wrote the words with tender emotion…the message that the work of redemption and salvation would bear me safely above… as a ransomed soul…and it brought abundant tears… of joy!"

He happened upon his friend Dr. Lowell Mason who, in the course of their conversation, asked Ray if he knew of any good texts to be used in a publication that Dr. Mason was preparing.  Hesitantly, Ray copied the words he had written.  With music composed…the hymn MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE was finished, and has been used in most evangelical hymn books published ever since.

Your spirit will be lifted to by the meaningful words from Ray Palmer!