“Take My Life, and Let It Be” was written by British hymn writer Frances Havergal in 1874 and is considered by many hymn historians to be one of the finest consecration hymns ever written. Her father nicknamed her “Little Quicksilver” as a child because of her quick and eager mind. She memorized long passages of scripture at the age of four and began to write poetry at age seven. In her relatively short life of forty-three years, she produced hymns that are still being sung today. Her writing was the expression of one fully consecrated to Christ. It was said that she never wrote a line of poetry without praying over it.
During a visit that Frances was having for several days with ten of her friends in one of their homes, she became burdened to pray for them. Some of them were Christians but weren’t living victorious lives, and the others didn’t know Christ. She prayed, “Lord, give me all in this house!” God began answering her prayers and eight had either rededicated their lives to the Lord or accepted Christ as Saviour. After Frances had gone to bed on the last night of the visit, there was a knock at her bedroom door. The last two in the group asked if they could speak with her, and the three were soon rejoicing together as Frances had led them both to the Lord.
Frances was too excited to sleep that night. She recalled, “Before I left the house, everyone had got a blessing.” She praised the Lord and rededicated her life to Him. The lines came to her, one after the other, until she had written “Take My Life, and Let It Be.” As she wrote the last line, “Ever, only, ALL for Thee,” she capitalized the word “All.” Many hymnals include only four verses, but the original six verses include every aspect of one’s life.
This hymn was originally sung to the tune “Patmos,” written by her father, William Havergal. The text has been paired with many tunes, but the most commonly used is “Hendon,” written by Swiss Protestant minister and hymn writer César Malan. American hymn composer and music educator Lowell Mason introduced the tune in North America in 1841 after visiting Malan in Europe several years previously. Frances’ text set to Malan’s tune gained popularity after it was published in Ira Sankey’s “Gospel Hymns No. 5” in 1887.
Frances Havergal was a talented pianist and singer. She was referred to as “the sweetest voice of hymnody.” Four years after writing this hymn, she 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 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. . . I don't think I ever packed a box with such pleasure.
Each line of this hymn challenges the believer to give all they are and have to the Lord for His use. This complete submission results in new priorities in one’s life. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12:1-2).
1. Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of thy love,
At the impulse of thy love.
2. Take my feet, and let them be
Swift and “beautiful” for thee.
Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only, for my King.
Always, only, for my King.
3. Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from thee,
Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
4. Take my moments and my days;
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my intellect, and use
Ev’ry pow’r as thou shalt choose,
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,
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.
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