“Have thine own way Lord, Have thine own way. Thou art the potter, I am the clay.”
Our church service closed with that hymn this past Sunday after a sermon on Romans 2 that challenged us to live out what we are saying with our mouths.
The words of that hymn resonated deeply with me because that has become the prayer of my heart after walking through a lifetime of trials. It took a lot to bring me to that point of surrender but I truly believe that is one of the purposes, even benefits, of the struggles and trials of this life. All of our experiences are designed by the master Creator to prune, mold and shape us to be like Jesus, fully surrendered to Him. If we are honest, the easy times don’t quite have the same effect on us.
The more I grow in the Lord, the more I appreciate and am moved by the words of the cherished old hymns. That hymn in particular is a beautiful prayer of surrender that has become dear to my heart.
Written in 1902 by Adelaide Pollard, it was a hymn of submission to the Lord for His will in her life after her dreams for her life were not being realized. She had a strong desire to serve the Lord in Africa but that desire was never blessed by the Lord. The Lord’s plan for her life was to teach girls here in America at a missionary school. Specifically, this hymn was written after a failed attempt in her elderly years to raise funds for a missions trip to Africa. She wrote the song as a surrender of her lifelong dream to be a missionary in Africa to the Lord.
The hymn is a beautiful example of praying scripture.
She based it on the passage of scripture in Jeremiah 18:
So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.
Then the word of the Lord came to me: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.“
Jeremiah 18:3-6
How often in our own lives isn’t that exactly what brings about our own submission and surrender?! So often we put so much effort into makeing our plans and desires work out only to have the Lord communicate “no” or “not now” by circumstance, leaving us with little choice but to say “have thine own way, Lord.”
That leaves me so grateful for the Lord’s unwavering love for me. It’s His love that keeps us on His path and brings us to that place of surrender.
Here are the rest of the lyrics and a video of the song to listen to. I hope you are as blessed and challenged as I am by the hymn!
Have Thine Own Way, Lord
by Adelaide Pollard
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Search me and try me, Master, today!
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
As in Thy presence humbly I bow.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Wounded and weary, help me, I pray!
Power, all power, surely is Thine!
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway!
Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me.
What is a hymn or song that has been speaking to you lately? I’d love to know! Tell me in the comments below!