Category — Music or Song Quotes

Many thanks to Bible or Not reader Angela for today’s quote about the connection between prayer and faith.  This modern-day anecdote almost sounds like a Bible proverb, but it comes from a song written by Samuel T. Scott and Robert L. Sande nearly 60 years ago. Since this song and quote has been a blessing to others, my hope is to simply pass that blessing along.

“Prayer is the key to heaven, but faith unlocks the door.” – Samuel T. Scott and Robert L. Sande

Here are the complete lyrics to Faith Unlocks the Door by Samuel T. Scott, including the extra words that have been added by recording artists such as Carroll Roberson, Jake Hess, The Cathedrals, and other old time gospel musicians. Also included below is a more recent video recording of the song, a beautiful a capella version, by a young choir from the Fountainview Academy.

Prayer is the Key to Heaven, Faith Unlocks the Door
Complete Lyrics

Prayer is the key to Heaven,
But faith unlocks the door;
Words are so easily spoken,
But prayer without faith
Is like a boat without an oar.

Have faith when you speak to the Master,
That’s all he asks you for;
Prayer is the key to Heaven,
But faith unlocks the door.

(Instrumental and optional extra words)
How many times have you prayed,
For something big or small?
How long did you have to wait,
Or did the answer ever come at all?
Words are mere expressions of thought,
And nothing more.
Believing is what really counts my friend,
And faith is what unlocks the door.

Have faith when you speak to the Master,
That’s all he asks you for;
Prayer is the key to Heaven,
But faith unlocks the door.

A Capella Version of Faith Unlocks the Door

The original copyright for “Faith Unlocks the Door” was registered by Samuel T. Scott in January of 1955 and later in that year a new registration added Robert L. Sande to the credits of authorship as “(Prayer is the key to heaven) faith unlocks the door”.

I recently received and email from my parents that included today’s quote, and it was so inspiring that I thought I would share. I had heard this quote since I was a child, but never realized the origin and the context of it.

“Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory of the Coming of the Lord.” – The Battle Hymn of the Republic, Julia Ward Howe, written November 1861 and first published February 1862

This quote is the opening line of the patriotic hymn “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” that was written and made popular during the civil war. I remember singing this song as a kid with silly lyrics like “Mine eyes have seen the coming of the glory of the Lord, he is coming down the alley in a 67 Ford” and “Glory glory hallelujah, teacher hit me with the ruler”. How many of you did that? Do kids still do that today? Actually, the email that sparked me to look into this hymn had a link to a group of high school choirs with a childrens choir in the mix. I’ll bet they sing it with some funny words too.

But seriously, when you look into the words and origin of this hymn, it’s quite inspiring. The original melody came from popular spiritual written in 1856 but was then adopted with new words written by a Union soldier about the abolitionist John Brown’s body, how though he was dead his soul is marching on in the army of the Lord. Julia Ward Howe reportedly had heard it while seeing a review of the troops in Virginia and the next morning wrote the lyrics we know today. You can read the full account in Wikipedia.

So, here is a song, that was being used by soldiers in the northern army as a marching cadence with an anti-slavery theme and motivation for their cause; it then is transformed into a patriotic anthem of the righteous cause of God. The truth that those who oppress others and those who reject the living God will meet the sword of His justice is nothing less than chilling. And the willingness that American soldiers have, from the revolution until this present day, to die that others may be free is profound. Read the lyrics, i think you will be as amazed as I was.

Here are the full lyrics of the song Battle Hymn of the Republic as it was originally penned by Julia Ward Howe in November 1861. The version published in February 1862 is a little different, and then another verse was added later that year or as late as 1863. There are a bazillion recordings of this song on Youtube, so enjoy!

Lyrics to Original Version of Battle Hymn of the Republic by Julia Ward Howe

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.
He is trampling out the wine press, where the grapes of wrath are stored,
He hath loosed the fateful lightnings of his terrible swift sword,
His truth is marching on.

I have seen him in the watchfires of an hundred circling camps
They have builded him an altar in the evening dews and damps,
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps,
His day is marching on.

I have read a burning Gospel writ in fiery rows of steel,
As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal,
Let the hero born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel,
Our God is marching on.

He has sounded out the trumpet that shall never call retreat,
He has waked the earth’s dull sorrow with a high ecstatic beat,
Oh! be swift my soul to answer him, be jubilant my feet!
Our God is marching on.

In the whiteness of the lilies he was born across the sea,
With a glory in his bosom that shines out on you and me,
As he died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
Our God is marching on.

He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,
He is wisdom to the mighty, he is succour to the brave,
So the world shall be his footstool, and the soul of Time his slave,
Our God is marching on.

Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Our God is marching on.

Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.

There has been so much said and written about love that I didn’t think I had anything to add, so I almost didn’t write this. But who can resist talking about love? Life is filled with so much expectation, and much of that expectation is based upon what we get, when it should be based upon what we can give.

“And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.” – The Beatles, Abbey Road, 1969

Conventional wisdom, and today’s love quote, tell us that you only get what you give. As good as that sounds, it is not completely Biblical. Yes, the Bible does say to cast your bread upon the water and in so many days it will return to you, implying that what you put out is what you’ll get back (God and Karma), but Jesus made this principle so much clearer.

Firstly, let’s remember what Jesus did with five loaves of bread in one instance, and then with seven loaves in another. With five loaves of bread Jesus fed 5,000 people and with seven loaves of bread He fed 4,000 people. And yes, in both instances He also multiplied the few fishes He had. Those who had, gave of what they had, and God multiplied it to get so much more than they gave.

These accounts are not just accounts of Jesus’ miraculous power, they are examples of a spiritual principle. The principle is that in the end, the love you take is greater than the love you make. In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus makes it very clear:

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” – Luke 6:38 NIV

When you give of your love (the love you make), it will return unto you in a good measure (meaning you’ll get a lot back), it will be shaken together (so you’ll have room to receive even more), and running over into your lap (you’ll take back more love than you can hold). So today, let’s remember this principle, and if you are discouraged about what you think you’re not getting, then give some love and you’ll be amazed how God will bless you.

And for those who enjoyed the Beatles quote, I’m sure you’ll enjoy the last track of the Beatles last recorded album, Abbey Road.