Frances Havergal: Simplicity and Fullness

God gifted Frances with a brilliant mind. She was reading by the time she was three years old. In the years to come, she would become fluent in both German and French, and she was nearly fluent in Italian. Her sister Maria wrote in Memorials of Frances Ridley Havergal that Frances memorized most of the New Testament, as well as the Minor Prophets, Isaiah, and Psalms.

Frances Ridley Havergal was born on December 14, 1836, in Astley, Worcestershire, England, the youngest of six children. She died on June 3, 1879, at the age of 42.

Matters of the mind

As a young girl, Frances’s mind was filled with much knowledge about God. Her parents were faithful in teaching her about the Lord. Her father was a pastor, so we can be sure she listened to more than a handful of sermons. And there’s no doubt that the Scripture she committed to memory stocked her mind with many spiritual realities. But we know that knowledge about God isn’t enough.  

Matters of the heart

Things changed dramatically for Frances when she was fourteen years old. The facts about God that had occupied her mind sprang to life in her heart. She was born again, starting a lifelong spiritual journey of growing “in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). Frances described the change this way: "I committed my soul to the Savior, and earth and heaven seemed brighter from that moment."

Labors from the heart

In her short life, Frances Havergal diligently poured her heart into many gospel endeavors. Along with sharing with others about the hope found in Jesus, she spoke of her Savior through devotional books and children’s books. She also penned several hymns, some of which are still sung today. You are likely familiar with “Take My Life and Let It Be,” or you might know “In Full and Glad Surrender” or “Like a River Glorious.”  

There is a simplicity and fullness to the message she communicated to others – a message easily understood, yet with spiritual depth. Consider this piece from her book Opened Treasures:     

“When He hung by His pierced hands and feet upon the cross, alone in the great darkness of God's wrath, it was because He was bearing your punishment because your sins were laid upon Him so that they might not be found upon you and punished upon you. Satan will try to persuade you not to believe that your sins were laid upon Him and will try to keep you always doubting it, but God says they were! Which will you believe? Again, look at the solemn question, "Where are your sins?" and then look at Jesus, suffering and dying for you, and answer boldly, "The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all."

What I find most admirable about Frances’s life is her steady, humble devotion to the Lord. She modeled a life of simply loving God and loving others. We know that she was not perfect, but there’s much we can learn from her Christian example.

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  This is the great and foremost commandment.  The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:36-40).

Key sources for this blog: C.S. Lewis Institute and Havergal Trust 

If you would like to read something by Frances Havergal, I recommend the devotional book My King or Daily Thoughts for the King’s Children. It’s a part of what Frances called her Royal books, and it’s easily found online.

Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless praise,
let them flow in endless 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,
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,
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,
every power as thou shalt choose.

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,
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,
ever, only, all for thee.

(“Take My Life and Let It Be” by Francis Havergal)