Take My Life and Let It Be Consecrated, Lord, To Thee

This two-line couplet was one of a dozen such couplets that came to the mind of Frances Havergal after a very unusual experience. In December 1874 she went to Worcester, England, with a group of friends for a five-day visit. She later wrote that in the group of ten people there were “some unconverted and long prayed for, some converted but not rejoicing Christians.” She prayed that the Lord would use her to lead these to a joyful experience in Christian faith. By the last day of her visit, her prayer had been answered. Because of the joy she felt, she was unable to sleep. She spent most of the night in praise and renewal of her own consecration, and the couplets of the hymn flooded her mind. Each of them expressed part of herself - time, hands, feet, voice, lips, wealth, mind, will, heart, love, and finally “myself.”