I Look Not Back

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I look not back, God knows the fruitless efforts

Author: Annie Johnson Flint
Tune: O SALLA LAND
Published in 11 hymnals

Audio files: MIDI

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	I LOOK NOT BACK (New Christian Hymnal 23…

Representative Text

1 I look not back; God knows the fruitless efforts,
the wasted hours, the sin, the deep regrets.
I leave them all with him who blots the record,
and graciously forgives, and then forgets.

2 I look not forward; God sees all the future,
the road that, short or long, will lead me home,
and he will face with me its ev'ry trial,
and bear for me the burdens that may come.

3 I look not round me; then would fears assail me,
so wild the waves of earth's unruly seas,
so dark the world, so filled with woe and evil,
so vain the hope of comfort and of ease.

4 I look not inward; that would make me wretched,
for I have naught on which to stay my trust.
I only see my failures and offenses,
and weak endeavors, crumbling into dust.

5 But I look up into the face of Jesus,
for there my heart can rest, my fears are stilled;
and there is joy, and love, and light for darkness,
and perfect peace, and ev'ry hope fulfilled.

Source: Christian Worship: Hymnal #815

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Author: Annie Johnson Flint

Born: December 24, 1866, Vineland, New Jersey. Died: September 8, 1932, Clifton Springs, New York. Buried: Clifton Springs, New York. The biographical account of poetess/hymn-writer Annie Johnson Flint (1866-1932) is a story of both heartbreak and triumph. Born on Christmas Eve in the small town of Vineland, New Jersey, she was welcomed by Eldon and Jean Johnson as their greatest earthly gift. Three years later, little Annie would lose her mother, who died as she gave birth to Annie’s baby sister. Mr. Johnson, who himself was suffering from an incurable disease, willed the children to the Flint family who would bring them up in the Baptist faith. It was during a revival meeting at the age of 8 that the Spirit of God brought Annie'… Go to person page >

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