TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE by Frances R. Havergal, 1874

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 Every power as Thou shalt choose.

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.

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.

The words to the classic hymn Take My Life and Let It Be were written in 1874 by Frances R. Havergal. I found the story behind the hymn at Cyberhymnal.org. There was an excerpt written by Frances herself:

I went for a little visit of five days (to Areley House). There were ten persons in the house, some unconverted and long prayed for, some converted, but not rejoic­ing Christians. He gave me the prayer, “Lord, give me all in this house!” And He just did. Before I left the house every one had got a blessing. The last night of my visit after I had retired, the governess asked me to go to the two daughters. They were crying, &c.; then and there both of them trusted and rejoiced; it was nearly midnight. 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 heart one after another till they finished with “EVER, Only, ALL for Thee!”

Chris Tomlin recorded a beautiful version of this hymn in 2004; I hope you can take the time to listen to it…just click on this link, Take My Life, to see his video performance of it on You Tube.