Take My Life and Let It Be

**This song has special meaning for me as this was the song sung at our wedding when Daniel and I received communion together for the first time as husband and wife. Bowing our heads in prayer and singing this song to the Lord, dedicating our life to Him, was very powerful and beautiful.  I honestly wish that for each of you.**

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

1 Corinthians 10:31

In this day of self-centered living and pleasure-oriented lifestyle, the total commitment to God of body, mind, and possessions portrayed in this text is difficult for many Christians to achieve. Even though we realize that we have nothing we have not received and that we are only stewards of the good gifts God has entrusted to us, we often fail to apply this basic truth to our daily lives:

The gold that came from Thee, Lord,
To Thee belongeth still;
Oh, may I always faithfully
My stewardship fulfill.
~Author Unknown~

It was said of Frances Ridley Havergal, author of this text, that the beauty of a consecrated life was never more perfectly revealed than in her daily living. She has rightfully been called "The Consecration Poet", her entire life characterized by simple faith and spiritual saintliness. In spite of frail health, she lived an active life until her death at the age of 43. On her tombstone was the Scripture verse she claimed as her own: The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin. I John 1:7. She wrote many beautifully phrased hymn texts, including I Gave My Life for Thee", "Who is on the LORD's Side?", and "Like a River Glorious".

"These little couplets that chimed in my heart one after another" were for Frances Havergal the result of an evening in 1874 passed in pursuing a deeper consecration of herself to God. "Take my voice and let me sing always, only for my King" was personally significant for Frances. She was naturally very musical and had been trained as a concert soloist with an unusually pleasant voice. Her musical talents could have brought her much worldly fame. However, she determined that her life's mission was to sing and work only for Jesus. The line "Take my silver and my gold" was also sincerely phrased. At one time Frances gathered together her many fine pieces of jewelry and other family heirlooms and shipped them to the church missionary house to be used for evangelizing the lost. Nearly fifty articles were sent with "extreme delight".


TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE Frances R. Havergal, 1836-1879

Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days;
Let them flow in ceaseless praise,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee
Filled with messages from Thee.

Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect, and use
Ev'ry pow'r as Thou shalt choose,
Ev'ry pow'r as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will, and make it Thine;
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.

Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.

Read I Chronicles 29:1-13; Matthew 22:37; I Corinthians 6:19 & 20
Sing this song again and again. Ask God to make it your true prayer.
Express once more your gratitude for all of God's gifts. Dedicate yourself more completely to His glory and service.