1 Thy will, not mine, O God, I pray,
To lead me and guide me day by day,
For in the darkness or the light,
Thy will is best, Thy way is right.
Refrain:
I would hold Thy hand divine,
Have Thine own way,
Thy will, not mine;
Lord, I would hold Thy hand divine,
Have Thine own way,
Thy will, not mine.
2 Thy will, not mine—O God, I know
Is better for me, where’er I go;
And when my path I cannot see,
Thy will and love shall pilot me. [Refrain]
3 Thy will, not mine, shall pilot me
When storm-tossed upon the stormy sea;
Thro’ dark and night, thro’ good and ill,
I need not fear—Thy way and will. [Refrain]
4 Thy will, not mine—O God of love—
In pathways below to heights above—
I look to Thee and humbly pray,
Thy will be mine o’er all the way. [Refrain]
Source: Progressive Sunday School Songs #97
William C. Poole was born and raised on a farm in Maryland. His parents belonged to the Methodist church. He graduated from Washington College and became a Methodist minister in Wilmington, Delaware area. He was pastor of McCabe Memorial, Richardson Park and other churches. In 1913 he was superintendent of the Anti-Saloon League of Delaware. He wrote about five hundred hymns. The writing was done as recreation and a diversion from his pastoral work. His goal in writing as well as in being a minister was to help people.
Dianne Shapiro, from "The Singers and Their Songs: sketches of living gospel hymn writers" by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (Chicago: The Rodeheaver Company, 1916) Go to person page >
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