Take Me, O My Father, Take Me - Hymn Lyrics

1. Take me, O my Father, take me;
Take me, save me, through Thy Son;
That which Thou wouldst have me, make me,
Let Thy will in me be done.
Long from Thee my footsteps straying,
Thorny proved the way I trod;
Weary come I now, and praying,
Take me to Thy love, my God.

2. Fruitless years with grief recalling,
Humbly I confess my sin;
At Thy feet, O Father, falling,
To Thy household take me in.
Freely now to Thee I proffer
This relenting heart of mine;
Freely life and soul I offer,
Gift unworthy love like Thine.

3. Once the world's Redeemer, dying,
Bore our sins upon the tree;
On that sacrifice relying,
Now I look in hope to Thee:
Father, take me; all forgiving,
Fold me to Thy loving breast;
In Thy love for ever living
I must be for ever blest.

Amen.

Title: Take Me, O My Father, Take Me
Author: Ray Palmer (1808–1887)
Tune Composer: Lowell Mason (1792–1872) – most commonly paired tune

Hymn Story:

"Take Me, O My Father, Take Me" was written by Ray Palmer, one of the most respected American hymn writers of the 19th century, also known for "My Faith Looks Up to Thee."
Palmer wrote many hymns that express deep, personal emotion in response to the love and mercy of God.
This hymn is a heartfelt prayer of repentance, modeled after the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32). It is the voice of a sinner who recognizes their wandering, feels the deep shame of rebellion, and now throws themselves wholly upon the mercy of the heavenly Father.

It was published in 1840 and quickly found a place in collections of evangelical hymns. Lowell Mason, a key figure in American church music, provided a simple and tender melody that helps carry the weight of the text beautifully.

Themes:

• Repentance: An open-hearted confession of sin and need.

• Divine Mercy: Trusting in God's readiness to forgive.

• Submission: A surrender to God's will and shaping work.

• Restoration: Returning home after wandering far away.

Devotional Thought:

This hymn beautifully captures the moment when a soul finally stops striving in its own strength and surrenders wholly to God's mercy.
It teaches that no matter how far we have strayed, the Father is eager to receive us, to transform us, and to fulfill His will in us. It’s a hymn that speaks tenderly to the heart that feels its own guilt but dares to hope in God's boundless grace.

It pairs especially well with the reading of Luke 15—the Prodigal Son's story—and could be used effectively in services focusing on repentance, restoration, or salvation invitations.