Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
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.
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.
This hymn was written by Francis Ridley Havergal. She was born in England as the youngest child of a minister. By the age of 3, she could read; at the age of 4 she was reading and memorizing the Bible; at the age of 7 she began writing poetry. When she was 11, her mother died after suffering a long and hard illness.
She was a very educated girl. Her scholastic achievements included several modern languages in addition to Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. She was also trained in linguistics and music. She was a pianist and singer. She was also a devoted Bible student memorizing the New Testament including the Psalms, Isaiah, and the Minor Prophets.
Even though she was highly cultured and educated, she maintained a simple faith and confidence in her Lord. It is said that she never wrote a line without first praying over it.
After 1873, she literally carried out her now famous couplet "Take my voice, and let me sing, Always, only for my King." and she sang nothing but sacred music of the love of God and His way of salvation. It became her life's mission to sing and work for Jesus.
Her hymn of consecration, "Take my Life and Let It Be" was written by Miss Havergal in 1874. She given the following account of the song:
"Perhaps you will be interested to know the origin of the Consecration hymn 'Take my life.' 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 game 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, & then and there both of them trusted and rejoiced; it was nearly midnight. I was too happy to sleep, and passes 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!'"
Her prayer, "Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold," in the same hymn was not lightly stated. In August 1878, Miss Havergal wrote to a friend,
"The Lord has shown me another little step, and, of course, I have taken it with extreme delight. 'Take my silver and my gold' now means shipping off all of my ornaments to the church Missionary House, including a jewel cabinet that is really fit for a countess, where all will be accepted and disposed of for me... Nearly fifty articles are being packed up. I don't think I ever packed a box with such pleasure."
Miss Havergal also wrote many small devotional tracts and narratives in prose and numerous little books of poems and hymn texts, all marked by the same earnest and practical piety. Her themes in her writing were of faith, consecration, and service.
Frances Ridley Havergal died at Caswall Bay, Swansea, Wales on June 3, 1879, at the age of 42.
Have I consecrated my life to the Lord? Do I give up of my most valuable treasures to serve the One who died for me? What of my time? my talents? my treasures? What of myself do I give to Him? Have I given Him my all to be used for His service and glory?
This hymn was written by Francis Ridley Havergal. She was born in England as the youngest child of a minister. By the age of 3, she could read; at the age of 4 she was reading and memorizing the Bible; at the age of 7 she began writing poetry. When she was 11, her mother died after suffering a long and hard illness.
She was a very educated girl. Her scholastic achievements included several modern languages in addition to Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. She was also trained in linguistics and music. She was a pianist and singer. She was also a devoted Bible student memorizing the New Testament including the Psalms, Isaiah, and the Minor Prophets.
Even though she was highly cultured and educated, she maintained a simple faith and confidence in her Lord. It is said that she never wrote a line without first praying over it.
After 1873, she literally carried out her now famous couplet "Take my voice, and let me sing, Always, only for my King." and she sang nothing but sacred music of the love of God and His way of salvation. It became her life's mission to sing and work for Jesus.
Her hymn of consecration, "Take my Life and Let It Be" was written by Miss Havergal in 1874. She given the following account of the song:
"Perhaps you will be interested to know the origin of the Consecration hymn 'Take my life.' 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 game 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, & then and there both of them trusted and rejoiced; it was nearly midnight. I was too happy to sleep, and passes 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!'"
Her prayer, "Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold," in the same hymn was not lightly stated. In August 1878, Miss Havergal wrote to a friend,
"The Lord has shown me another little step, and, of course, I have taken it with extreme delight. 'Take my silver and my gold' now means shipping off all of my ornaments to the church Missionary House, including a jewel cabinet that is really fit for a countess, where all will be accepted and disposed of for me... Nearly fifty articles are being packed up. I don't think I ever packed a box with such pleasure."
Miss Havergal also wrote many small devotional tracts and narratives in prose and numerous little books of poems and hymn texts, all marked by the same earnest and practical piety. Her themes in her writing were of faith, consecration, and service.
Frances Ridley Havergal died at Caswall Bay, Swansea, Wales on June 3, 1879, at the age of 42.
Have I consecrated my life to the Lord? Do I give up of my most valuable treasures to serve the One who died for me? What of my time? my talents? my treasures? What of myself do I give to Him? Have I given Him my all to be used for His service and glory?
I love reading about Frances R. Havergal who wrote so much and gave so much for her Lord! Thanks for sharing this story.
ReplyDeleteRender therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
ReplyDeleteMatthew 22:21
Erika: Is it not amazing about how others served the Lord... it's so often puts to meaning to their work, their stories, and the outcomes.
ReplyDeleteJoel: Thanks for the additional verse! So often we are reminded throughout scripture to give God the glory and the praise in ALL that we do:)