Take My Life
The song Take My Life and Let it Be was written by Frances Havergal in 1874 and has held enduring value and blessing among Christians around the globe and across genres and styles. The song is not about surrender in a vague or broad way, but it takes us through specific places of surrender.
The text is as follows:
Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless 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.
Take my voice and let me sing
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from thee.
Take my silver and my gold;
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power 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.
Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee.
As I sing this prayer, some of the lyrics are sung with joyful freedom and surrender. Others convict me. I suspect the same is true for others. How about for you? Which are easier to pray and which are more difficult? I like this song because, even with the lyrics that are convicting to sing, we know it is an intercession to God, a call for help. This humble prayer is beautiful in the sight of God.
The song ends with the beautiful image of pouring our love at the feet of Jesus, and finding there the greatest of all treasures. May we find our greatest treasure as we pour out love to God through lives of humble surrender.
Dr. Jill Schroeder-Dorn, Director of Worship Arts
