I saw this quote a few weeks ago and it really spoke to me. How many times have I been moved by the Spirit through song? Countless. I learn from sermons and I love to pray and I enjoy sharing God’s good works with others, but I have a difficult time listening, especially to God. To settle down long enough to hear directly from the Father is really hard for me.
But my oh my does God speak to my heart, my mind and my soul through song. Usually worships songs, though sometimes instrumental or secular ones. God used music this Christmas to reveal greater truth about Himself, His son and the season.
On Sunday, we sang the song Take My Life and Let it Be, Consecrated Lord to Thee. While traditionally thought of more as an oldie but goodie, God used this song to speak truth into my life.
I’ve mentioned this before, but at Training Camp, they really emphasized only singing the words if you meant them. I don’t know how familiar you are with this song, but it is committing pretty much everything to God.
The first line, take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee. What does that even mean? While there are many definitions for consecrate, I like this one: to declare or set apart as sacred. As Christians, we are set apart as sacred-we are a dwelling for the divine! When we give God our hearts, He moves in. So to be consecrated to Him means we are sacred, and He now has control of our lives.
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise. I don’t know about you, but this is hard for me. To only speak words that build up others and lift up and glorify God is hard. Culture tends to be negative, people tend to be pessimistic, and it is so hard to only sing praise. In James, we are told that praises and curses flow from the same mouth-my brothers and sisters, this should not be. So to sing this back to God-wow. Do you really mean it? Are you committing to only speaking praises to God? That is hard.
Take my hands and let them move, at the impulse of your love. Do we love others with our actions? Do we give when they need food? Do we write notes to others who need encouragement?
Take my feet and let them be, swift and beautiful for thee. Do we run the race in such a way we feel God’s pleasure?
Take my voice and let me sing, always, only for my King. Do we only sing to God, for God? When we sing along to the radio, does it glorify God?
Take my lips and let them be, filled with messages from thee. Oh, my Lord, how I wish this were true. I want to speak truth and love and life over people, I want my lips to speak only love.
Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold. Will I really surrender all my wealth, all my money, all my stuff, and give it to God? All has been given to us, we receive everything as a blessing, do we give it back to him or do we hold onto it, a security blanket of stuff?
Take my intellect and use, every power as you choose. When I work on schoolwork, do I glorify God? When I think about how to solve the problems, do I include God in the solutions?
Take my will and make it thine, it shall be no longer mine. Have I surrendered my will? Does it really belong to God? Am I willing to do what He asks, even when it doesn’t make sense? Even when it’s hard?
Take my heart, it is Thine own. It shall be Thy royal throne. Is my heart really a throne for God to sit on? Is it his? Do I trust Him with it? Do I believe He really only has my best interests at heart?
Take my love, my Lord, I pour, at thy feet its treasure store. I think this refers partially to the sinful woman, who poured VERY expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet. Is our love for God, so precious to Him, pouring out of our hearts and our lives and our treasures’ store?
Take myself, and I will be, Ever, only, all for thee.
Bottom line: Do we really live our lives in such a way that we are only living for God? It’s so easy for everything else to get in the way–¦am I really only and forever all for God?
