Moment By Moment

"Moment by Moment" is a beloved hymn written by Daniel W. Whittle in 1893, with music composed by his close collaborator, May Whittle Moody, his daughter. The hymn expresses the continuous, moment-by-moment dependence on Jesus Christ for daily strength, protection, and spiritual victory.

Daniel Whittle, a former Civil War officer and later an evangelist, wrote many hymns under the pseudonym “El Nathan.” This particular hymn was born from a moment of deep reflection on Colossians 3:4 — “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” Whittle was reportedly so moved by the thought of Christ being his very life that he began jotting down the words that became this hymn.

His daughter, May, a gifted musician and wife of evangelist William R. Moody (son of D.L. Moody), composed the tune. The result was a hymn full of peace, assurance, and surrender, cherished in Christian gatherings for over a century. Its refrain — “Moment by moment I’m kept in His love” — reflects a life of abiding in Christ day by day, step by step.