Albertina Walker - Lord Keep Me Day By Day Lyrics
Released: 11 Jul 1979
Lyrics
Lord, keep me day by day,
in a pure, and perfect way.
I want to live, I want to live on
in a building not made by hand.
I'm just a stranger here,
traveling through this barren land.
Lord, I know there's a building somewhere,
in a building not made by hand.
Lord, keep my body strong
so that I can do no wrong.
Lord, give me grace just to run this Christian race
to a building not made by hand.
Video
Albertina Walker - Lord Keep Me Day By Day (Live)
Meaning & Inspiration
Albertina Walker's "Lord Keep Me Day By Day," released on November 4, 2016, is a powerful declaration of faith, a fervent prayer woven into the fabric of gospel music. The song delves deeply into the universal human yearning for divine guidance and the ultimate hope of an eternal dwelling. At its core, this piece is a plea for spiritual integrity, a recognition of our transient existence in this world, and a resolute anticipation of a heavenly home. The opening lines, "Lord, keep me day by day, in a pure, and perfect way," echo the disciples' request to Jesus in Luke 17:5, "Increase our faith!" This isn't just a passive wish; it's an active surrender, an acknowledgment that true purity and perfection are not achieved through human effort alone, but through constant divine stewardship. Walker articulates the believer's desire to "live on," not in the earthly sense, but in the spiritual reality of a "building not made by hand." This directly references the apostle Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 5:1, where he speaks of our earthly bodies as tents and looks forward to a "house from God, an eternal house in the heavens, not built by human hands." The "stranger here, traveling through this barren land" imagery powerfully conveys the biblical perspective of believers as sojourners, as described in 1 Peter 2:11: "Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul." This land, though potentially filled with hardship and temptation, is not our permanent residence. The song's earnest petition for strength to "do no wrong" and grace to "run this Christian race" is a profound supplication for the endurance and discipline required for spiritual living. It mirrors the apostle Paul’s admonition in Hebrews 12:1 to "run with perseverance the race marked out for us," reminding us that this spiritual journey is demanding. Ultimately, "Lord Keep Me Day By Day" is more than just a song; it is a living testament to the unwavering hope in a resurrection and a kingdom prepared for us, a spiritual sanctuary promised by our Lord, a promise found throughout Scripture, particularly in John 14:2 where Jesus assures his disciples, "My Father’s house has many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?" Albertina Walker’s delivery imbues these timeless truths with an undeniable power, serving as a spiritual beacon for all who seek to live a life aligned with God's will and long for their eternal home.