Thomas O. Chisholm (1866-1960) was a businessman and a Methodist minister. In 1923, he sent several poems to Rev. William Runyan, a musician associated with Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. Runyan writes, "This particular poem held such an appeal that I prayed most earnestly that my tune might carry over is message in a worthy way, and the subsequent history of its use indicates that God answered prayer."
This hymn was the favorite of Dr. Will Houghton, a former president of Moody. It has since been a favorite with students at Moody and is said to have been introduced at the Founder's Week Bible conference. It is believed to have been included at every Founder's Week since.
In 1941, Chisholm wrote, "My income has not been large at any time due to impaired health in the earlier years which has followed me on until now. Although I must not fail to record here the unfailing faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God and that He has given me many wonderful displays of His providing care, for which I am filled with astonishing gratefulness."
