How long has it been since you talked with the Lord
And told him your heart's hidden secrets?
How long since you prayed?
How long since you stayed on your knees till the light shone through?
How long has it been since your mind felt at ease?
How long since your heart knew no burden?
Can you call him your friend?
How long has it been since you knew that he cared for you?
How long has it been since you knelt by your bed
And prayed to the Lord up in heaven?
How long since you knew that he'd answer you
And would keep you the long night through?
How long has it been since you woke with the dawn
And felt this day is worth living?
Can you call him your friend?
How long has it been since you knew that he cared for you?..
Lyrics Page
How Long Has It Been
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Sep 24, 2026 updated
Verified editorial review
Song Meaning
Jim Reeves asks the same question four times across this song, each time pointed at a different part of a neglected relationship with God: "How long has it been since you talked with the Lord," since you prayed, since you knelt by your bed, since you woke up and "felt this day is worth living." It's not condemnation so much as a gentle inventory.
The song keeps returning to a specific image — kneeling "till the light shone through" — tying prayer to something that actually changes how a day feels, not just a ritual to check off. James 4:8 makes the same promise in different words: "draw near to God, and he will draw near to you." The distance in this song isn't permanent; it's just gone unaddressed.
By the final verse the question shifts from the past to the present — "can you call him your friend?" — turning what started as a memory check into an invitation. Psalm 145:18 says the Lord is near to all who call on him in truth, which is exactly the kind of nearness this song is quietly asking the listener to come back to.
Lyrics Verified by Editorial Team