By Faith Macomber, April 2007
The author and composer of this hymn is Lelia Naylor Morris, she was born April 15, 1862 in Ohio. She and her husband became very active worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Ten years after she got married she became interested in writing gospel songs. Her husband said that she always kept a pad of paper handy so that she got the inspiration for another hymn she could right it down.
In 1913, Leila’s eyesight began to fail, and within a year her sight was completely blind. Even being blind she continued to write gospel songs with the help of devoted friends. For a while she used a twenty-eight foot black board that had the music staff lines on it, that her son made for her.
At a Sunday morning service at Mountain Lake Park at a camp meeting, in Maryland, the minister preached with great excitement. His caring for souls charged his sermon with spiritual power. With his theme Repentance, he brought many to the altar. One was a woman with culture and refinement. As she knelt and prayed, it was evident of the struggle taking place inside her. She wanted to do something, to give, not receive. Lelia Morris quietly joined her at the altar and prayed with her. Mrs. Morris said “Just know your doubting give o’er,” then the song leader added another phrase, “Just now reject him no more,” then the preacher earnestly added “Just now throw open the door,” and Mrs. Morris made the last appeal, “Let Jesus Come Into Your Heart.”
That Sunday morning the chorus of this famous hymn was born. Mrs. Morris had the hymn completed before the close of the camp meeting. This hymn stands as a great testimony to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit through the words.
This is a deeply moving, soul winning hymn. She wrote more that 1,000 hymn text as well as many tunes. She died in July 23, 1929, in New York.
Sources:
Steve Van Nattan. Blessed Quietness Journal. (Kingston, Tennessee: 1996-2000) Let Jesus Come Into Your Heart. http://blessedquietness.com/journal/housechu/inheart.htm
The CyberHymnal.(Let Jesus Come Into Your Heart) http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/l/e/letjesus.htm Photo of Lelia N. Morris.
Osbeck, K.W. 101 More Hymn Stories. (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications, 1985), p. 173.
Osbeck, K.W. Amazing Grace. (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications, 1990), p.180.
