Surrender

One of my favorite old hymns is “Take My Life and Let It Be”. The writer, Frances Havergal wrote most of the song in 1874 but up until 1878 the 4th stanza had not been written. History tells us that, “In 1878, four years after writing the hymn, Miss Havergal wrote a friend, ‘The Lord has shown me another little step, and, of course, I have taken it with extreme delight. ‘Take my silver and my gold’ now means shipping off all my ornaments to the Church Missionary House, including a jewel cabinet that is really fit for a countess, where all will be accepted and disposed of for me…Nearly fifty articles are being packed up. I don’t think I ever packed a box with such pleasure.'”

Source: www.christianitytoday.com

After that little act of huge faith she penned these words:

Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect, and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose,
Every power as Thou shalt choose.

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/445#ixzz2BNnpjXnC

Huh?! This minor historical tidbit has convicted me in a major way. What am I withholding from the Lord? What am I not surrendering so that He can have all of me? What are you withholding from Him? For me, I definitely withhold my time. Unfortunately, I view my time as my own, especially my “Me Time”. You know those precious nap times, bedtimes and times where Myla is in school for a few hours. How do I spend my time? My flesh wants to spend my time for me! I want to read and shop and watch my shows and surf the Internet. But, have I asked God what He wants me to do with that time? The short answer is, “No.” Why you may ask? Honestly? Because I don’t want to surrender my time to Him so He can tell me what to do with it. But, I do know that the few moments I do surrender my time to Him, He blesses that time extravagantly. Why wouldn’t I surrender it all?

Today the Lord led me to Romans 12:1, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1 ESV)

How am I accepting Paul’s appeal? My prayer today is that I will wake daily offering my body (and my time) to God as a living sacrifice. What are you withholding from your Lord today?