I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR 1872 Annie Sherwood Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves but our sufficiency is from God. 2 Corinthians 3:5

In his book, “The Practice of the Presence of In his book, “The Practice of the Presence of God”, Brother Lawrence claimed to be as close to God while working in the kitchen as when praying the chapel. The Lord, after all, is always near us, thus wherever we are is holy ground. That was the experience of Annie Hawks, a housewife and mother of three in Brooklyn, New York.

“I Need Thee Every Hour” was written on a. bright June morning in 1872 “I Need Thee Every Hour” was written on a bright June morning in 1872. Annie later wrote, “One day as a young wife and mother, I was busy with my regular household tasks. Suddenly, I became so filled with the sense of nearness to the Master that, wondering how one could live without Him, either in joy or in pain, these words, “I Need Thee Every Hour,” were ushered into my mind, the thought at once taking full possession of me.”

The next Sunday, Annie handed these words. to Dr The next Sunday, Annie handed these words to Dr. Lowry, who wrote the tune & chorus. Later that year, it was sung for the first time at the National Baptist Sunday School Association meeting in Cincinnati, Ohio, and published in a hymnbook the following year.

When Annie’s husband died 16 years later, When Annie’s husband died 16 years later, she found that her own hymn was among her greatest comforts. “I did not understand at first why this hymn had touched the great throbbing heart of humanity,” Annie wrote. “It was not until long after, when the shadow fell over my way, the shadow of a great loss, that I understood something of the comforting power in the words.” 

I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord; No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.

I need Thee, O I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee; O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby; Temptations lose their power when Thou art nigh.

I need Thee, O I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee; O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain; Come quickly and abide, or life is in vain.

I need Thee, O I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee; O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will; And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.

I need Thee, O I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee; O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour, most Holy One; O make me Thine indeed, Thou blessèd Son.

I need Thee, O I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee; O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.