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 France R. Havergal. Havergal was born into an Anglican family in which everyone served the church. Her father was a clergyman who wrote and composed hymns and her brother was a priest and an organist. Unfortunately, Francis Havergal passed away at an early age of 42 in Wales. Most of her hymns were published posthumously. Cyberhymnal has an excellent quote concerning the origin of this hymn. If you're not feeling up to clicking the link, here is was Havergal herself writes:
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. (converted?): then and there bother 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 them-selves, and chimed in my heart one after another till they finished with "Ever, Only, ALL for Thee!"
Surrendering ourselves to Christ is a hard thing. It can be a bit confusing when Christ says, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it" (Mark 8:34-35). Truly, we can gain all the comforts of this world, but it will not cover the corruption of the soul. Giving all to Jesus makes worldly things trivial. For in Him we have a greater joy than what the world can offer. Thus, we not only surrender our stuff, but our bodies and our will to God. I imagine that from an outside perspective it seems like a scary thought. It isn't necessarily easy from a believer's perspective either. But we don't have a spirit of fear, it's of power, love, and self-control (2 Tim. 1:7). We have trust and faith in the Shepherd. He is our Lord and to Him we surrender all.
Three versions to watch:
Here is British version that I couldn't embed.
Here is the classic version with which you're more likely familiar.
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