Xanthe Hancox

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship.  Romans 12:1

Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1879) was exceptionally talented. She could read and write by the age of four. She wrote her first book of poems at seven. She was fluent in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Welsh and French. She enjoyed skiing in the Swiss Alps – an unusual recreation in the nineteenth century.  She was an accomplished musician. She was a widely read and beloved author, the only woman before the twentieth century to have over a million books printed. She also wrote scores of hymns which continue to be sung by Christians all over the world.

One of Havergal’s most well-known hymns is Take My Life. With all her talent and education, Frances Havergal maintained a simple faith and confidence in her Lord that is so beautifully reflected in these lines:

Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.

One of the lines in another verse says, "Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold." In 1878, four years after writing the hymn, 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 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."

Frances understood what Paul was saying to the Romans when spoke about true worship. Every aspect of our lives is part of our worship; it’s not just the singing part of your church’s Sunday service. Worship is magnifying someone or something by our actions, thoughts or words. We worship from the moment our eyes open in the morning to the second they close at night.

Only through the giving and submitting of our entire lives can we rightly worship God and fulfil our purpose and mission on this earth. How will you worship today?

Prayer: Lord, take all that I am and let me praise you. Take every part of my life because you alone are worthy to be praised. You gave me life and breath – let me use that breath and life to glorify your name. Amen

You can listen to Take My Life here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSaLIgBt1y4