Verse 1:
Lord, keep my 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.
Verse 2:
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.
Verse 3:
I'm just a stranger here,
traveling through this barren land.
Lord, I know there's a building somewhere,
a building not made by hand.
Lord Keep Me Day By Day
Lord Keep Me Day By Day Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
Dorothy Norwood's powerful rendition of "Lord Keep Me Day By Day," with its video released on November 4, 2016, offers a deep well of spiritual reflection and aspiration. The song is a heartfelt prayer set to music, capturing the essence of a believer's daily walk and their ultimate hope. It resonates with the desire for divine guidance and strength needed to navigate life's challenges while keeping focus on an eternal perspective.
The opening lines express a fundamental plea for divine assistance in maintaining a life of purity and moral integrity on a daily basis. This request for a "pure and perfect way" highlights the understanding that living righteously is not a one-time event but a continuous process requiring God's constant support. The longing to "live on in a building not made by hand" introduces the theme of eternal dwelling, pointing beyond the temporary nature of earthly existence towards a permanent, heavenly home. This celestial structure is a key concept in Christian theology, representing the eternal habitation God has prepared for believers, contrasting sharply with human-built, perishable dwellings.
The prayer continues by acknowledging the need for physical strength, not for worldly pursuits, but specifically "so that I can do no wrong." This shifts the focus from mere physical ability to the body as an instrument for righteous living and service. Following this is a request for grace, the divine assistance needed to "run this Christian race." This metaphor, frequently used in scripture, depicts the life of faith as an endurance challenge, requiring perseverance, discipline, and divine favor to reach the finish line. The ultimate goal of this race is again linked to reaching "a building not made by hand," reinforcing the eternal reward as the driving motivation for earthly struggle and spiritual effort.
Finally, the song adopts the perspective of a sojourner, stating, "I'm just a stranger here, traveling through this barren land." This reflects a biblical understanding of believers as temporary residents on Earth, whose true citizenship lies elsewhere. Earthly life is portrayed as a journey through a challenging or "barren" landscape, emphasizing its transient nature and the difficulties encountered. Amidst this journey, the soul finds assurance in the knowledge that there is indeed "a building somewhere, a building not made by hand," reaffirming the certainty of a heavenly destination and the hope that sustains the traveler through the wilderness of this world.
The themes expressed throughout the song find significant resonance in various biblical passages. The concept of "a building not made by hand" is directly echoed in 2 Corinthians 5:1, which speaks of our earthly tent being destroyed, replaced by "a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." The idea of being a "stranger here" and "traveling through this barren land" aligns with passages like Hebrews 11:13-16, which describes faith as acknowledging one is a sojourner and pilgrim on Earth, seeking a better country or city prepared by God. The prayer for grace to "run this Christian race" brings to mind scriptures such as 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 and Philippians 3:14, which encourage believers to press on towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God. Ultimately, the song is a humble, daily surrender and plea for God's guidance and strength, rooted in the profound hope of eternal life with Him.
