Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus was written by Helen Lemmel for a Billy Sunday evangelistic campaign conducted in 1922. Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus was inspired by a pamphlet written by a missionary to the Algerian Muslims of North Africa, Lilias Trotter.

“So then turn your eyes upon Him, look full into His face and you will find that the things of earth will acquire a strange new dimness.” ~Lilias Trotter, Focussed

Helen Lemmel’s Early Life

Helen was the daughter of a Wesleyan Methodist pastor in England. At the age of 12, her family immigrated to the United States where she flourished as an accomplished singer. At the age of 43, she moved to Germany to study voice. In Germany, she met and married a wealthy European.

A few years later, Helen returned to the United States and became a vocal teacher at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois. Helen led a women’s choral group for Billy Sunday’s evangelistic campaigns and wrote hymns to sing at the events. Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus was written for one of Billy Sunday’s evangelistic meetings.

The Songs Impact

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus became popular when it was published in her book, Glad Tidings, along with 66 other hymns, and used as the songbook for the Keswick Convention. The Keswick Convention used the song as their theme song in the summer of 1924, which launched its popularity in churches worldwide.

The Keswick Convention was a tent revival held at St. John’s Church in Keswick, England. Many missionaries were inspired at these meetings, including Amy Carmichael. Inspirational speakers included Andrew Murray, Hudson Taylor, and Billy Graham.

Her songs impacted the hearts of pastors, evangelists, and missionaries in the Keswick Convention. Helen’s inspirational impact was carried to the churches, the streets, and the mission fields worldwide. Her songs lit a flame of love for the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Words of Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus was written in 1922 and is now in the public domain.

O soul, are you weary and troubled?

No light in the darkness you see?

There’s light for a look at the Savior,

And life more abundant and free!

Through death into life everlasting

He passed, and we follow Him there;

Over us sin no more hath dominion–

For more than conquerors we are!

His Word shall not fail you–He promised;

Believe Him, and all will be well:

Then go to a world that is dying,

His perfect salvation to tell!

Refrain:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.

Suffering – A Turn of Events

After suffering an illness that would lead to her blindness, her wealthy husband abandoned her. Instead of sinking into despair, Helen continued to compose hymns. Picking the notes on a small keyboard, she relied upon friends to record her songs on paper.

Though physically blind, the inner eyes of Helen’s heart could see bright and clear.

“To You I lift up my eyes, O You who are enthroned in the heavens!” ~Psalm 123:1 NASB

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [emancipation from bondage, true freedom]. And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] the Spirit.” ~2 Corinthians 3:17-18 AMP

Helen composed over 500 hymns before her death at the age of 97.

Recommendations

How to Find God – Strength with Dignity

5 Ways to Overcome Our Fears – Strength with Dignity

References

20 Bible Verses about Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus. Published by Open Bible. Retrieved December 8, 2023, from What Does the Bible Say About Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus? (openbible.info)

Amplified Bible (AMP) Copyright 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631.

Lemmel, Helen H. Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus. The song was published in 1922, and is in the public domain. The lyrics are published by Timeless Truths. Retrieved December 8, 2023, from Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus > Lyrics | Helen H. Lemmel (timelesstruths.org)

New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB 1995), copyright 1960, 1971, 1977,  1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

Rockness, Miriam Huffman. Lilias Trotter – A Story and A Song. Published June 10, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2023, from A Story & A Song* | Lilias Trotter (wordpress.com)

Bible Gateway Blogger Grid Member #bgbg2 #BibleGateway

Every Friday, I join an online Christian writing community, Five Minute Friday. We receive a one-word prompt and write whatever comes to our mind. The one word prompt this week is turn.