Here Am I

As this new year starts, I’m reminded of the challenge of living the Christian life. So often it can be easy to lose focus. One of my favorite quotes says, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” In my life, Christ is to be the main thing, and the hardest thing so often is to keep Him first.

A friend recently challenged me, and has agreed to hold me accountable as I strive to follow the first commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30).

Today I find my prayer reflected in a song that Chris Tomlin recorded a few years ago. It was originally written in 1874 by Frances Havergal. Her words still ring true to me today, and I hope they resonate with you as well.

Here are the words to Tomlin’s arrangement:

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.

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 might would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use every power as you choose.

::Chorus::
Here am I, all of me.
Take my life, it’s all for thee.

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 your feet its treasure store
Take myself and I will be ever, only all for thee,
Take myself and I will be ever, only all for thee.

Here am I, All of me.
Take my life, It’s all for thee.