Take My Life, That I May Be by: Frances Havergal

By: Frances R Havergal 1836-1879

For recordings of this hymn:

Hendon:  https://youtu.be/PoB1kPVsWDE

Patmos – Havergal: https://youtu.be/F9G0bFhgIQE

Yarbrough: https://youtu.be/XILuZPtCl5I

Holingside: https://youtu.be/YzHETVigOT4

Messiah: https://youtu.be/7_Aew7MeeCw

All to Thee: http://youtu.be/Hbb-HeSM3Zs

Savannah: https://youtu.be/a7XcGXWxQAQ

1 Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days:
let them flow in endless praise,
let them flow in endless praise.

2 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.

3 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.

4 Take my silver and my gold:
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as thou shalt choose,
every power as thou shalt choose.

5 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.

6 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.

Known as her “Consecration Hymn,” Frances Havergal’s “Take My Life, That I May Be” can be found in nearly all but the most syncretistic church hymnals. The origins of this hymn came from a week during Advent she spent visiting with a group of about 10 individuals. “Some were converted but not rejoicing in their faith and some were unconverted but longing.” Or in today’s language; for some their faith had grown cold and others were seeking to learn more. Miss Havergal’s prayer was that all would be blessed by their time together – and they were!

Her words: “The last night of my visit I was too happy to sleep, and passed most of the night in praise and renewal of my own consecration, and these little couplets formed themselves and chimed in my hear one after another, till they finished with, “Even, only, all for thee.””

To be consecrated is to be set apart and dedicated to God. We start with dedicating to God our very lives and the moments and days which make them up. Everything which our hands and feet do are also consecrated to God. Everything which comes from our lips, whether song or words bear witness to our consecration. The tongue bears witness to our heart. If our heart is consecrated, our words will demonstrate that consecration as an unequivocal witness. And if our heart is un-consecrated, our tongue will not hide this.

The stewardship of our possessions is also consecrated. A steward does not own that which he is steward over. When the rightful owner asks for his possessions back, the steward withholds nothing. To place our silver and gold at the throne of God is nothing more than our duty, it was never ours to begin with.

The ultimate sacrifice is of our will. Our will, so utterly bent by sin, so corrupted by pride, it is a false store of identity. By our will we cannot change the color of our hair and we think we can change the very nature of our being? No! Only by placing it at the throne can freedom be gained.

Then finally, our love and all that we are is given: ever, only, all for thee.