Take the Name of Jesus with You

Heather Allington

Heather writes for Sunday Song Book on behalf of the The Salvation Army Oshawa. As a lifelong member of the Army, she has loved these familiar - and some less familiar - songs for many years, and enjoys researching and writing about their origins. She is a wife, mother, grandmother and retired elementary school teacher who likes trying her hand at watercolour painting and poetry writing.

Take the name of Jesus with you,
Child of sorrow and of woe;
It will joy and comfort give you –
Take it then where’er you go.

Precious name, O how sweet!
Hope of earth and joy of Heaven.

Take the name of Jesus ever
As a shield from every snare;
If temptations round you gather,
Breathe that holy name in prayer.

O the precious name of Jesus,
How it thrills our souls with joy,
When His loving arms receive us,
And His songs our tongues employ!

At the name of Jesus bowing,
Falling prostrate at His feet,
King of kings in Heaven we’ll crown Him,
When our journey is complete.

Lydia Baxter was a radiant Christian whose friends once asked her how she managed to be so cheerful despite many health problems. She told them: “I have a very special armour. I have the name of Jesus. When the tempter tries to make me blue or despondent, I mention the name of Jesus, and he can’t get through to me anymore.”

Lydia was born in Petersburg, New York, in 1809, and came to faith in Christ through the preaching of an evangelist – Eben Tucker. After marrying Colonel John Baxter, she moved to New York City, where she was a Christian worker until she became bedridden. The Baxter home became a gathering place for Christian workers because of Lydia’s bright personality. She wrote many Gospel songs, including one called The Gate Ajar, which was very popular in D.L. Moody’s Great Britain campaign in 1873-1874. A young Scottish woman named Maggie Lindsay was moved by that song to “enter the gate” and turn her life over to God. About a month later, Maggie died in a train accident, and in her hand was a copy of The Gate Ajar.

If you’ve been following this blog, you’ll have noticed that many beautiful, uplifting hymns were written by people who suffered from ill health or other problems. We know that we often draw closer to the Lord when we have troubles – He can be our only solace. These hymnwriters surely felt close to God, and gained strength and comfort from Him, which they were then able to express for others.