I SURRENDER ALL

"He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." Matthew 10:39. Judson W. Van de Venter has left this account of the writing of his hymn text: "For many years I had been studying art. My whole life was wrapped up in its pursuit and the thing farthest from my mind was active Christian service. My dream was to become an outstanding and famous artist. After graduating from college, I studied drawing and painting under a well-known German teacher. To help me financially, I taught school and eventually I became supervisor of art in the public schools of Sharon, Pennsylvania. It was during this period in my life that a revival was held in the First Methodist Church of which I was a member. I became very interested in these meetings as a personal worker. The Spirit of God was urging me to give up teaching and to enter the evangelistic field, but I would not yield. I still had a burning desire to be an artist. This battle raged for five years. At last the time came when I could hold out no longer and I surrendered my all - my time and my talents. It was then that a new day was ushered into my life. I wrote I Surrender All in memory of the time when, after the long struggle, I had surrendered and dedicated my life to active Christian service for the Lord." The song was actually written while he was conducting a meeting at East Palestine, Ohio, and in the home of George Sebring, founder of the Sebring Campmeeting-Bible Conference in Sebring, Ohio. Dr. Billy Graham wrote this tribute to Mr. Van de Venter in the book, Crusade Hymn Stories, edited by Cliff Barrows: "One of the evangelists who influenced my early preaching was also a hymnist who wrote "I Surrender All, the Rev. J. W. Van de Venter. He was a regular visitor at the Florida Bible Institute (now Trinity Bible College) in the late 1930's. We students loved this kind, deeply spiritual gentleman and often gathered in his winter home at Tampa, Florida, for an evening of fellowship and singing." The composer of the music for this hymn text, Winfield S. Weeden, was a longtime associate with Mr. Van de Venter in evangelistic work. On his tombstone is inscribed the title of this hymn, "I Surrender All." Van DeVenter's hymn and hymn story remind us all to be sensitive to the Lord's leading and consequent surrendering. The content deserves our fullest attention and should cause us to close our lips and search our souls. Maybe this will be your experience this week.

All to Jesus I surrender;

All to Him I freely give;

I will ever love and trust Him,

In His presence daily live.

Refrain:

I surrender all,

I surrender all;

All to Thee, my blessed Savior,

I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender;

Humbly at His feet I bow,

Worldly pleasures all forsaken;

Take me, Jesus, take me now.

Refrain:

I surrender all,

I surrender all;

All to Thee, my blessed Savior,

I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender;

Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;

Let me feel the Holy Spirit,

Truly know that Thou art mine.

Refrain:

I surrender all,

I surrender all;

All to Thee, my blessed Savior,

I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender;

Lord, I give myself to Thee;

Fill me with Thy love and power;

Let Thy blessing fall on me.

Refrain:

I surrender all,

I surrender all;

All to Thee, my blessed Savior,

I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender;

Now I feel the sacred flame.

Oh, the joy of full salvation!

Glory, glory, to His Name!

Refrain:

I surrender all,

I surrender all;

All to Thee, my blessed Savior,

I surrender all.

Listen to this hymn here. LISTEN