Hymn Story: Standing on the Promises

Saved at a young age, Russell Kelso Carter went on to receive a degree in civil engineering and became a professor of chemistry and mathematics at his alma mater — the Pennsylvania Military Academy.

While there, he suffered a health crisis concerning his heart and the doctors told him there was nothing more they could do. He was just 30 years old.

Carter turned to God for comfort and asked for healing — promising God that no matter what, he was committed to the Lord’s service.

God answered Carter’s prayers for healing and he ended up living for 49 more years, eventually becoming a medical doctor himself.

He wrote, "Standing on the Promises" as a personal testimony to the faithfulness of God.

Standing on the Promises of God

by Russell Kelso Carter

Standing on the promises of Christ, my King,
Through eternal ages let his praises ring;
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.

Refrain:
Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God, my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I'm standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises that cannot fail.
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God. [Refrain]

Standing on the promises of Christ, the Lord,
Bound to him eternally by love's strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit's sword,
Standing on the promises of God. [Refrain]

Standing on the promises I cannot fall,
List'ning ev'ry moment to the Spirit's call,
Resting in my Savior as my all in all,
Standing on the promises of God. [Refrain]