A dear, loving Savior, though earth-friends be few;
And now He is watching in tenderness o’er me,
But O, that my Savior were your Savior, too!
Refrain:
For you I am praying,
For you I am praying,
For you I am praying,
I’m praying for you.
2. I have a Father; to me He has given
A hope for eternity, blessed and true;
And soon will He call me to meet Him in heaven,
But O, that He’d let me bring you with me, too! [Refrain]
3. I have a robe, ’tis resplendent in whiteness,
Awaiting in glory my wondering view;
O, when I receive it all shining in brightness,
Dear friend, could I see you receiving one, too! [Refrain]
4. When He has found you, tell others the story,
That my loving Savior is your Savior, too;
Then pray that your Savior may bring them to glory,
And prayer will be answered- ’twas answered for you! [Refrain]
The hymn "I Have a Savior, He's Pleading in Glory", also known by its refrain “For You I Am Praying,” was written in the 19th century and reflects a deeply personal and evangelistic message. Here's the story behind it:
Lyrics by: S. O'Malley Cluff (1837–1910)
Music by: Ira D. Sankey (1840–1908)
Background and Story
S. O’Malley Cluff, a minister from Ireland, wrote the words to “I Have a Savior, He's Pleading in Glory” in the 1870s. Cluff had a strong evangelical spirit and wrote this hymn as a heartfelt appeal to the unsaved—urging them to consider Christ’s intercession on their behalf and to accept salvation.
The hymn is unique in that it takes the form of a personal conversation between the singer and someone they care about, expressing a desire that the person would come to know Christ. It speaks of Christ interceding in heaven ("pleading in glory") and of the singer’s intercessory prayer for the listener. This dual focus—Christ’s intercession and the believer’s prayer—makes the song emotionally powerful and spiritually compelling.
Connection with Ira D. Sankey
The tune was composed by Ira D. Sankey, the famous American gospel singer and composer who partnered with evangelist Dwight L. Moody. Sankey loved this hymn and included it in his widely used hymnal "Sacred Songs and Solos."
There is a touching story associated with this hymn:
Sankey once shared that he received a letter from a missionary in China who had sung “I Have a Savior” to a dying girl who was far from home. The hymn brought comfort and led her to trust in Christ before she died. It exemplifies how the hymn served not only as an evangelistic tool but also as a deep source of comfort and hope.
Legacy
“I Have a Savior, He’s Pleading in Glory” became popular during revival meetings in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its tender tone and personal message resonated with people across many denominations. The refrain, “For you I am praying,” often became a personal pledge for Christians to pray for their loved ones’ salvation.
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