"Jesus Makes My Heart Sing"

Henrietta Luise von Hayn (1724-1782) wrote the words to the Protestant music, “Jesus Makes My Heart Sing.”  Von Hayn was born in Germany to a servant of the Duke of Nassau.  At the age of 22, she became a part of the Moravian community, one of the earliest Protestant groups to disagree with the Roman Catholic authorities almost one hundred years before Martin Luther.  Many of these communities were treated as heretics and burned at the stake, including their most famous leader, Jan Hus (a.k.a. Jon Huss).  Von Hayn wrote over 40 hymns, including the Protestant hymn “Jesus Makes My Heart Sing,” which was included in the German hymnal, Brü­der Ge­sang­buch, 1778. 

The tune “Jesus Makes My Heart Sing” was set to the Protestant music of “Herrnhut,” which was published in the hymnal Herrn­hut­ter Chor­al­buch in 1735.  The hymn, “Jesus Makes My Heart Sing” was translated into English and published in the Moravian hymnal in 1789 by Frederick W. Foster, an ordained pastor in the Moravian community near Prussian Saxony, and who eventually became a bishop.

“Jesus Makes My Heart Sing”

Jesus makes my heart rejoice,
I’m His sheep, and know His voice;
He’s a Shepherd, kind and gracious,
And His pastures are delicious;
Constant love to me He shows,
Yea, my very name He knows.

Trusting His mild staff always,
I go in and out in peace;
He will feed me with treasure
Of His grace in richest measure;
When athirst to Him I cry,
Living water He’ll supply.

Should not I for gladness leap,
Led by Jesus as His sheep?
For when these blest days are over,
To the arms of my dear Savior
I shall be conveyed to rest:
Amen, yea, my lot is blest.

Toward the end of her life, Von Hayn cared for the invalid sisters of the Gross­hen­ners­dorf Moravian community, which had been dissolved. “Jesus Makes My Heart Sing” was allegedly written during this time in her life.

“Jesus Makes My Heart Sing”

For hymns & gospel songs & praise & worship piano music instruction, click here:

Christian music - piano lessons using piano chords

Copyright 2005 by Shinn Trading Inc.

Disclaimer     Privacy Policy     Children Privacy Policy     Terms of Use