Take My Life, That I May Be (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 685)
1 Take my life, that I may be
consecrated, Lord, to thee;
take my moments and my days;
let them flow in ceaseless praise.
2 Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of they love;
take my feet and let them be
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.
4 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.
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.
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.
Text: Frances R. Havergal; Music: William H. Havergal; Public Domain
Devotion
As a child this hymn was easy to sing, inspiring for a child to use hands, feet, and lips to do God’s work, even though I didn’t understand the concept at the time. Of course, that changed over the years and now I see it is a complete surrender to God’s will and power to give what we have in the love of our neighbor. As creatures of this world, we certainly fall short of giving it all to God, whether our time, our money, or our possessions.
After my mother passed, we hauled loads out of her house. Much went to Goodwill and anyone who wanted it. I look around and find I still have a house full of “stuff.” I can take nothing of this stuff with me to my heavenly home, so I must be more giving. To encourage me, I thought of additional words for this song. Take my “stuff” and let it be, someone else’s goods to see. May it help to set them free, with time and talents all for thee.
Prayer
Giving Father, fill our hearts with a desire to take all that we have and dedicate it to you and your service. Help us to surrender all earthly goods and ways that separate us from you, so we are free in you. Amen.