A Hymn for Graduation

My husband's oldest daughter graduated this weekend with her master's degree in biblical counseling and we had the joy of being there for that. While waiting for her turn to walk across the stage, the thought crossed my mind that I should share a hymn for graduation here on Hymns Illustrated. 

I changed my mind when I thought that most graduations are probably over by now until I realized my nephew's kindergarten graduation was tonight!  

A hymn for graduation is back on, friends, and I'm glad. This hymn works for any believer at any stage of life who is looking at "what's next" and who is excited about God using them for His glory.

Frances Ridley Havergal was certainly excited when she wrote this hymn. Look for the hymn story below the text.

Take My Life and Let It Be

by Frances Ridley Havergal

Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless praise,
let them flow in endless 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,
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,
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,
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,
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,
ever, only, all for thee.

Hymn Background: 

On her way to visit with friends for a few days, Frances Ridley Havergal asked the Lord to help “ALL” in the house to rejoice in Him before her stay ended.  There were Christians in the house, but not joyful Christians. And there were children who did not yet know Jesus. 

Her final night there, the governess came to her room and asked her to come see her friends’ little daughters who were crying. Frances was able to point them to the love of Jesus and both the girls trusted in Christ for their salvation and the whole house rejoiced in this answered prayer.

Frances was just too happy to sleep. Instead, she penned the hymn, “Take My Life and Let It Be” with the words “ever, only, ALL for Thee!” practically jumping in unison from her heart to the page.