More holiness give me

Lord, thank You for being such a pattern of a God-man.

This hymn, perhaps one of the most beautiful of all his compositions, was written by Mr. Bliss, 1873, after he had given up his musical convention work entirely and entered fully upon his lifework for the Master. It seems that it was only after he had given up everything and committed himself and all his gifts to the Lord’s service, that he was enabled to write such a hymn as this.

Bliss called the hymn 'My Prayer', but thousands in every Christian land have made it their prayer as well, and it will continue to voice a heartfelt want of millions in years to come.

The hymn was a special favorite with Mr. Moody, and was often quoted by him as a hymn that would live in the church of God, while the children of God continue to call upon his name in prayer.

Mr. Bliss was at the time of his death a member of the First Congregational Church of Chicago. The pastor, the Rev. Dr. E. P. Goodwin, in an address on the death of Mr. and Mrs. Bliss, referred to the singing of this hymn as follows: On one of the last occasions when he was with us, on a flying visit to our city, made during his work as an evangelist, he came in late one evening and sat at the rear of the church. Espying him, I called him forward to sing the hymn, ‘My Prayer.’ He struck the keys on the piano, stooped forward, and reading the words in the latter part of the first verse, 'More joy in his service', said "I do not think I can sing that as a prayer any more; it seems to me that I have as much joy in serving the blessed Master as it is possible for me to bear." - 'My Life and the Story of the Gospel Hymns' by Ira David Sankey

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In stanza 1, the original says "strivings" instead of "sweetness".

In stanza 3, the original says "purity" instead of victory and "longings for home" instead of "quest for the throne".

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The chorus was added later by the composer, Horatio Palmer.

Love this hymn!
Simple but powerful!
Always encouraging!

Move one in spirit to serve God with full highly inspiration. Thanks for the inspiration.

"More holiness...more sweetness within, more patience in suff'ring, more sorrow for sin...more joy in His service...Come, my Savior...help me, comfort, strengthen, keep me."

For growth in Christ it must be our longing before the Lord. Indeed everything is of Him not by our own effort and strength. Longing more from the Lord that all the human virtues and divine attributes mention in this hymn will be added into us so that we will all be saturated by His divine life and will have the growth and maturity in life. Hallelujah for such Christ who is everything to us!!! Lord Jesus! Amen!

Nice melody.