Gracious Father, Guard Thy Children

1Gracious Father, guard Thy children,
From the foe's destructive power;
Save, O save them Lord, from falling
In this dark and trying hour.
Thou wilt surely prove Thy people,
All our graces must be tried;
But Thy word illumines our pathway,
And in God we still confide.

2We are in the time of waiting;
Soon we shall behold our Lord,
Wafted far away from sorrow,
To receive our rich reward.
Keep us, Lord, till Thine appearing,
Pure, unspotted from the world;
Let Thy Holy Spirit cheer us
Till Thy banner is unfurled.

3With what joyful exultation
Shall the saints Thy banner see,
When the Lord for whom we've waited
Shall proclaim the jubilee!
Freedom from this world's pollutions,
Freedom from all sin and pain;
Freedom from the wiles of Satan,
And from death's destructive reign.