LEILA NAYLOR MORRIS
BORN April 15th 1862 in Ohio, USA, DIED July 23rd 1929 in her daughter’s home in New York. Nothing much was known about this woman who silently laboured in God’s vineyard to author well over 1,000 gospel songs and hymns, both writing the songs and arranging the music. She simply wrote her name as MRS CHARLES HENRY MORRIS. She did not even insert her first names, she simply identified herself with her husband’s initials.
Even after suffering poor eye (sight) in her fifties and eventual blindness, this silent labourer continue to write and compose hymns until her death at the age of 67.
She lived with her daughter until her death, which suggests to me that this lady did not make any personal profits from her much labour in God’s Kingdom. She was a labourer who denied, disowned herself and the world could see JESUS in her!
She lived with her daughter until her death, which suggests to me that this lady did not make any personal profits from her much labour in God’s Kingdom. She was a labourer who denied, disowned herself and the world could see JESUS in her!
LET JESUS COME INTO YOUR HEART – Rev. 3:20
Mrs Morris got the inspiration for this song during an alter call for sinners to come to Christ when she noticed that a particular (wealthy) lady who had responded to the call was weeping inconsolably. Puzzled, she approached the lady who told her she was too overwhelmed with the burden of her sin and not sure she could be saved. Leila said to the lady, “Just now, your doubtings give over”, the music director who had been drawn to the scene, added, “just now, reject Him no more”, and the evangelist who had preached the message concluded, “just now, open the door”, and Leila concluded, “Let JESUS come into your heart!”
PRAYERS:
ü Hebrews 11:6 – Dear LORD please establish my heart with your grace and faith as I cannot please You without trust in You.
ü James 1: 5-8: Lord in my asking help me know that You are a giving God who gives to everyone who asks liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproach or fault finding.
ü Rom. 8:29 – Dear LORD, You have predestined me to be molded into the image of Your Son Jesus Christ, let His life be evident in me.
- Help me to ask in faith without wavering, hesitating or doubting.
- I do not want to be like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown here and there and tossed by the wind.
- Deliver me LORD from being double-minded, irresolute, dubious and hesitating which are a sign of instability and uncertainty about everything I think, feel or decide.
- DEAR LORD, LET OUR HEARTS BE ESTABLISHED WITH YOUR GRACE!!
ü Rom. 8:29 – Dear LORD, You have predestined me to be molded into the image of Your Son Jesus Christ, let His life be evident in me.
ü Phil 2: 5-11 – Let the characteristics of His life be my daily experience:
- Dear LORD, please strengthen me to follow Your example in humility, let my attitude be patterned after yours.
- You stripped Yourself of all Your heavenly glory and privileges, leaving the comfort and glory of Your realm to come this world, assuming the guise of a servant. Lord accomplish the same emptying in me please.
- As if coming to this very low realm was not degrading enough, You even abased Yourself the more to the extent of a painful, shameful death, all in obedience to the Father’s wish. Lord, please rid my life, empty me of all accolades, achievements, etc, that are usurping Your complete ownership and control of my life.
- Your simple command is “DENY YOURSELF, TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW ME DAILY.” To this instruction Lord I pledge my allegiance, so help me LORD!!
