Sweet Will of God

She wrote about 1500 hymns in all, over a 37 year period. During her lifetime, her songs were translated and sung in Africa, India, China, and Korea. Her best known songs, ’Nearer Still, ’ ‘Let Jesus Come into Your Heart’ (both penned in 1898), and ‘Sweet Will of God, ’ (1900) can still be found in hymnals today.

Born in Pennsville, Ohio on April 15, 1862 Lelia Naylor Morris grew up in Malta and McConnellsville, Ohio. She was very young when her father died, so her mother started a millinery shop (a shop to design, manufacture and sell women’s hats and head pieces) to support the 5 children. There young Lelia learned to knit, sew, crochet and darn. When she started piano lessons, she practiced at a neighbor’s house because the family could not afford an instrument.

“When I was 10 years old, I was led to give my heart to God…. I knew then that I needed a Savior. Three different years I went forward to the altar and prayed and prayed until a man came and laid his hands on my head and said. ‘Why, little girl, God is here and ready to forgive your sins. ”’ Lelia began playing the organ for prayer meetings when she was just 12 years old.

In 1881, Lelia married Charles H. Morris. She transferred her membership to her husband‘s church, the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Morrises actively supported their congregation. Lelia served as a choir member and a leader of in the Sunday school, and the missionary society.

Until she was 30 Lelia thought she’d be spending the rest of her life sitting behind a sewing machine making dresses for women in McConnellsville. But 10 years after she got married, she became interested in writing gospel songs. Her husband said that she always kept a pad of paper handy so that if she got the inspiration for a hymn she could write it down. She composed her work in the Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, where she’d learned to play the organ.

Evangelists quickly began using Lelia’s songs. Many would visit her home when they were in Ohio. If Lelia was attending a camp meeting or revival service, she would often be invited to sit on the platform. She relished the opportunity to be in the services because she frequently was inspired to write songs after returning home from the meetings.

In 1913, Lelia’s eyesight began to fail. For a while, she used a 28 foot blackboard that had the music staff lines on it that her son had made for her. Within a year she was completely blind. Despite her lost sight, she continued to write gospel songs with the help of devoted friends. She would simply remember the songs until her daughter Fanny came from for an annual visit. Lelia would dictate dozens of songs as her daughter wrote them down—both words and music.

Lelia’s daughter Mary and her husband were missionaries to China. “A great many persons have said Mary should be at home with her blind mother… “I have been so happy to receive her letters in which she tells of being able to give a message for the first time to those darkened minds and hearts. I think you would agree with me that this is the best thing I has ever done. ”

Lelia Naylor Morris died on July 23, 1929.

appalachianhistory. net

The working of the law of the divine life must permeate our will. Although I have heard many people say, “I hate my stubborn will, ” I have never heard anyone say, “I hate my submissive will. ” We all must learn to say, “I hate my stubborn will, my submissive will, and my neutral will. I just hate my will. I don’t care whether my will is stubborn, submissive, or neutral. As long as it is my will, I hate it because it is natural. ” As the law of the divine life works in us, one of its functions will saturate our will with the will of Christ, making His will ours. In this way our will is remade with the very element of Christ’s will. This means that Christ’s life will grow into our will. Eventually, in our mind, emotion, and will there will be the growth of the life of Christ.

Life-study of Hebrews
Message 37 The Law of Life
(LSM)

I woke up singing this lovely song God placed in my heart. I have surrendered my will to him, so I can live a purposeful life.

I was in prayers and the Lord my Saviour placed this beautiful song in my heart. The center of God’s will is my home. I was lost but now I am surrendered to my Glorious Father will to worship Him with all my heart!

Stubborn indeed are we how many times do we ran away or try to avoid or bypass what God has expressly said. Trying to find solutions to our problems while rests before you his perfect will.

This song goes straight to my soul

This song is a prayer from heart. My sincere desire is to be more and more like God. To be wolly God’s and God alone.

I heard this hymn in 1948 as a junior in a Christian college and never since. But it lodged itself in my heart and I recalled most of the words. The Holy Spirit has caused me to sing it many times and to remain wholly surrendered to the Lord.

I listened to this song in church today and I was lost .. I kept singing within my heart... I couldn't stop hearing the echo of the melody of this song.. I resorted to listen to it over and over and my tears couldn't just help but join in singing.. I'm blessed!

We are imprisoned when we are going against God's will. Our soul is imprisoned when we refuse take God's way. God's way is for us to come to Him and drink! To believe into Him.

John 6:28

Then they said to Him, What shall we do that we may work the works of God?

John 6:29

Jesus answered and said to them, This is the work of God, that you believe into Him whom He has sent.