Take My Life And Let It Be (Hymn)

The hymn “Take My Life and Let It Be” is a prayer of complete surrender to God, asking Him to take control of every aspect of the believer’s life. The hymn emphasizes the abandonment of personal desires in favor of living for God’s glory, offering love, will, and all possessions to Him.

Ultimately, it calls for a life fully devoted to God, serving Him in every moment and through every ability.

VERSE 1
Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise.

VERSE 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.

VERSE 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.

VERSE 4
Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.

VERSE 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.

VERSE 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.

Words and Music by Frances R. Havergal © Public Domain

For I am the LORD your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy. Neither shall you defile yourselves with any creeping thing that creeps on the earth. For I am the LORD who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. Leviticus 11:44-45

Who was Frances Havergal?

Frances Ridley Havergal was an English religious poet and hymn writer.  She also wrote hymn melodies, religious tracts, and works for children.  Havergal was born into an Anglican family, at Astley in Worcestershire. Her father, William Henry Havergal, was a clergyman, writer, composer, and hymn-writer. Her brother, Henry East Havergal, was a priest in the Church of England and an organist.  In 1852 she studied in the Louisenschule, Düsseldorf, and at Oberkassel. Otherwise, she led a quiet life, not enjoying consistent good health; she traveled, in particular to Switzerland. She supported the Church Missionary Society.

“I went for a little visit of five days,” wrote Frances Havergal, explaining what prompted her to write her well-known hymn, “Take My Life and Let it Be.”

“There were ten persons in the house; some were unconverted and long prayed for, some converted but not rejoicing Christians. [God] gave me the prayer, ‘Lord, give me all in this house.’ And He just did. Before I left the house, everyone had got a blessing. The last night of my visit I was too happy to sleep and passed most of the night in renewal of my consecration, and those little couplets formed themselves and chimed in my heart one after another till they finished with “ever only, ALL FOR THEE!”

It was on this day, February 4, l874, that Frances wrote the hymn that is still sung around the world.

Source: https://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1801-1900/frances-havergal-wrote-take-my-life-and-let-it-be-11630571.html

Preaching Points

How can one fully dedicate their life to God?

Consecrate every aspect of life. The hymn’s line “Take my life and let it be / Consecrated, Lord, to Thee” calls believers to set their lives apart for God’s purposes, making everything sacred.

“You shall be holy, for I am holy” – Leviticus 11:44. This means dedicating all parts of life—time, actions, and desires—to God’s will, living a life that honors Him in every way.

Use your ability for God’s service. The lyrics “Take my hands and let them move / At the impulse of Thy love” and “Take my lips and let them be / Filled with messages from Thee” express the desire to offer one’s talents for God’s glory.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses” – Acts 1:8. Every skill, from speaking to serving, should be used to spread God’s love and message, making all abilities tools for His service.

Surrender personal will and love. “Take my will and make it Thine” and “Take my love, my Lord, I pour / At Thy feet its treasure store” highlight the importance of surrendering personal desires to God’s will, and offering one’s love to Him.

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” – Galatians 2:20. This speaks to the need for total surrender—allowing God to guide our thoughts, actions, and affections, letting go of our selfish inclinations in favor of His perfect will.

This hymn inspires believers to dedicate their entire being to God, making every thought, word, and action a reflection of His love and purpose.

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