Take My Life and
Let It Be
A Hymn


`Take my life, and let it be
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
Fill’d with messages from Thee.

Take my silver and my gold—
Not a mite would I withhold;

Take my intellect and use
Ev’ry 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.

Alexander’s Hymns No.3.


This is one of the most treasured hymns of Frances Ridley Havergal (1836‑1879) that has stayed the test of time since her death about 140 years ago. She wrote it in 1873 in 11 stanzas of two lines to which a twelfth was added.

The following verses could have inspired the writer;

2 Chron.29:31 Hezekiah...said, Now ye have consecrated yourselves unto the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the LORD...the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and as many as were of a free heart burnt offerings.

Isaiah 6:8 I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

Philippians 1:20‑21 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God.

Luke 21:2‑3 He saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all.

Philippians 3:14‑16 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

1 Peter 4:1‑2 As Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

Psa.40:8 I delight to do thy will, O my God:...thy law is within my heart.

Matt.6:20 Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.

John 21:17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Common tunes for it are Hendon and Nottingham (Mozart). Hymnary.org reckons that the writer could have selected her father’s tune Patmos.