Take My Life and Let It Be

1. Take my life and let it be
   Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
   Take my hands and let them move
   At the impulse of Thy love.
2. Take my feet and let them be
   Swift and beautiful for Thee;
   Take my voice and let me sing,
   Always, only for my King.
3. Take my lips and let them be
   Filled with messages from Thee;
   Take my silver and my gold,
   Not a mite would I withhold.
4. Take my moments and my days,
   Let them flow in endless praise;
   Take my intellect and use
   Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.
5. 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.
6. Take my love, my Lord, I pour
   At Thy feet its treasure store;
   Take myself and I will be
   Ever, only, all for Thee.

--Frances Havergal, 1874

Spiritual Breathing

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His word, just to rest upon His promise, and to know, "Thus saith the Lord!"  (Louisa Stead, 1882)


Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2
Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Today as I cleaned house, I really tried to put into practice what my study group, the Sowing Circle, has been learning in our Elizabeth George study A Woman After God's Own Heart. We have talked about how to make "praying without ceasing" a reality in our everyday lives. I turned on praise music to set my heart on the right frequency. And then, at every turn that I had a choice to make, I was conscious to ask God what he wanted me to do first, before making up my own mind. It is a departure from my history of trying to please God by my own methods...but oh what sweet peace it brings. It has been a wonderful way to keep my feet on His path for me today, rather than my on way. I feel peace in this moment as I have honored my priorities today by caring for my home, rather than running out to the mall to take advantage of a sale. I know, I know... the Gymbucks do have quite a gravitational pull!

There is much truth in keeping Christ the first breath, first thought of every moment. The peace it has brought me today alone is evidence of that. Spiritual breathing, Elizabeth George calls it - a breath in, a prayer out.

Now, Lord...to cram in a shower before rushing to carpool, or more prayer time with you? I think I already know the answer......