Songfacts®:

• Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-79) was born into an Anglican family, at Astley in Worcestershire, England. Her father, William Henry Havergal, was a clergyman, writer and composer, and Frances inherited his artistic gifts. Frances begun reading and memorizing the Bible at the age of four and at seven she wrote her first poems. She is best known for this simple expression of deep religious feeling but also wrote other hymns such as "Like a River Glorious" and "Who Is on the Lord's Side?" as well as religious tracts and works for children. In frail health for much of her life, Frances died of peritonitis at Caswell Bay on the Gower Peninsula in Wales.
• In February of 1874, just five years before her death, Frances was visiting the home of a friend where there were several guests, some of whom had no knowledge of what it meant to be a Christian, while the rest were not happy in their faith. A longing came upon the evangelical hymn writer and God gave her the prayer, "Lord, give me all in this house." Her prayer was answered and before Frances left that house, everyone had received a blessing. She was too happy to sleep and lying awake in the small hours, Frances spent the time praying and writing this hymn.