Take My Life and Let It Be

January 3, 2020

DAILY READINGS

1 Peter 1:13-16
This weekend’s scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

FIELD NOTES

While considering The Covenant in the Wesleyan Tradition, we will also focus on being God’s holy people. The word “holy” has at its root adoration, separation, consecration, separation, and dedication. All of this is summed up in the song, “Take My Life and Let It Be” by Frances Ridley Havergal. She tells of her inspiration to write the song:

“Perhaps you will be interested to know the origin of the consecration hymn, ‘Take my life.’ I went for a little visit of five days. There were ten persons in the house, some unconverted and long prayed for, some converted but not rejoicing Christians. He gave me the prayer, ‘Lord, give me all in this house!’ And He just did! Before I left the house everyone had got a blessing. The last night of my visit I was too happy to sleep, and passed most of the night in praise and renewal of my own consecration, and these little couplets formed themselves and chimed in my heart one after another, till they finished with, ‘Ever, ONLY, ALL for Thee!’

1. 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.

2. Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King;
Take my lips, and let them be 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.

3. 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.

Our Covenant Prayer in the Wesleyan Tradition expresses the same thoughts:

The Covenant Prayer in the Wesleyan Tradition

(If you are memorizing two lines a day, your goal today is at least the first six lines.)

I am no longer my own, but yours. Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will;

put me to doing, put me to suffering; let me be employed for you, or laid aside for you,

exalted for you, or brought low for you;

let me be full, let me be empty, let me have all things, let me have nothing:

I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to your pleasure and disposal.

And now, glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

you are mine and I am yours. So be it.

And the covenant now made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.

Questions for the Field

Reflect on your first experience of Christ in your life? Where were you? What happened? In what ways did this experience change you, make you holy?
Reflect on your last experience of Christ in your life? Where were you? What happened? In what ways did this experience change you, make you holy?
Since Christ is present ready to help you at any moment, in what part of your life do you need to invite Jesus so that it can become holier?
What part of your life do you need to say to Jesus “Take it, Lord, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to You!”

Family Field Talk

Share various times in your life in which you feel close to Christ.
Sketch a floor layout of your house. If your heart is similar to the floor plan of your house and Jesus is knocking at the door, into what part of your life (house) do you need to let Jesus enter?

Prayer Guide

Lord, Jesus Christ, Your holiness is the same today as it was yesterday, and as it will be tomorrow. Your love and grace wants to enter into my life and transform it. So, Lord, my holy life depends upon my letting you take my life and letting it be consecrated to you. So, Lord, I give you this part __________ (fill in the blank) of my life today. In your gracious name I pray. Amen.

Daily Devotionals