Standing on the
Promises of God
I n P raise
of H ymn
Reviewing Great Christian Hymns
This hymn reflects R. Kelso Carter’s personal experience
as a petitioner before the throne of God. His history,
both personal and theological, passed through some
deep and disturbing waters as he searched for balance
in his belief. Diagnosed with a critical heart condition
by age 30, Carter was facing imminent death.
Connie Ruth Christiansen writes: “He knelt and
made a promise that healing or no, his life was finally
and forever, consecrated to the service of the Lord.”
Christiansen goes on to say that from that moment on
the Scripture took on new life for Carter and he began
to lean on the promises that he found in the Bible. He
committed himself to believe, whether or not God
granted him healing.
God chose to heal him and Carter lived, with a healthy
heart, for another 49 years, though he would later
suffer many other health issues from which God did
not choose to heal him. In the end, Carter came to the
conclusion that healing was God’s choice to make and
that God also chose the instruments through which
that healing, if granted, would come. His hymn was a
personal testimony to his faith.
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Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
Through eternal ages let His praises ring,
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.
Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.
Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear
assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.
Standing on the promises I now can see
Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;
Standing in the liberty where Christ makes
free,
Standing on the promises of God.
Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
Standing on the promises of God.
Standing on the promises I cannot fall,
Listening every moment to the Spirit’s call
Resting in my Saviour as my all in all,
Standing on the promises of God.
austinbhebe.wordpress.com/2015/05/23/standing-on-the-promises-of-god/
Words & Music: R. Kelso Carter, in Songs of Perfect Love, by John Sweney & Kelso Carter
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: John J. Hood, 1886)