Have Thine Own Way, Lord

A Sermon based on the Hymn Have Thine Own Way, Lord by Adelaide A. Pollard

Introduction:
“Have Thine Own Way, Lord” is a hymn of deep surrender and humble obedience. Written by Adelaide A. Pollard in the early 1900s, the words reflect the cry of a soul that has laid down all resistance to the will of God. Drawing from the image of the potter and the clay in Jeremiah 18:6, this song expresses what every Christian should desire—that God take full control of our lives and shape us into what is pleasing in His sight.

Pollard was reportedly discouraged when she couldn't raise enough funds to go as a missionary to Africa. Attending a prayer meeting, she was struck by the simple statement of a woman who prayed, “It really doesn't matter what You do with us, Lord—just have Your way with our lives.” That night, she penned this hymn. It is a reminder that sometimes the greatest mission work begins in the heart, when we surrender not just our plans but our entire will to the Lord.

This hymn calls us to personal examination. Are we resisting God’s will or welcoming it? Do we trust Him to mold us, break us, cleanse us, and use us? The prayer of this hymn is not passive—it is active submission, trusting that God’s way is always best, even when we don’t understand the path. As we reflect on each stanza, may we honestly ask ourselves if we are truly allowing God to have His own way in every corner of our hearts.

Stanza One – “Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.”
This stanza draws directly from Isaiah 64:8 and Jeremiah 18:6, where God reveals His authority and sovereignty by comparing Himself to a potter and us to clay. The plea is one of complete surrender—“mold me and make me after Thy will.” We are not asking for God's help on our terms but yielding to His hands, His will, and His timing. This demands humility, trust, and the letting go of self-direction. The prayer is not “Lord, help me do what I want,” but “Lord, shape me into what You want.”

Stanza Two – “Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Search me and try me, Master, today!”
Here, the focus shifts to the inner man. Psalm 139:23–24 comes to mind: “Search me, O God, and know my heart… see if there be any wicked way in me.” This is a bold prayer of vulnerability. To ask the Lord to search us is to invite His holy light into our hidden places. The request “Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now” echoes Isaiah 1:18 and the cleansing blood of Christ (1 John 1:7). True surrender begins with spiritual cleansing and repentance.

Stanza Three – “Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Wounded and weary, help me, I pray!”
This stanza acknowledges our weakness and need for God’s strength. Life wounds us, sin burdens us, and trials exhaust us. But God is not only our Creator—He is our sustainer and healer. Matthew 11:28–30 offers rest to the weary. “Power—all power—surely is Thine!” reminds us that victory and strength come not from our own efforts, but through dependence on God’s Spirit (Zechariah 4:6). Yielding to His will means trusting Him to carry us when we cannot stand on our own.

Stanza Four – “Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Hold o’er my being absolute sway!”
This final verse is a declaration of full lordship. “Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see Christ only, always, living in me!” echoes Galatians 2:20—“It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” This is not partial submission or shared control; it is total devotion. The Spirit of God must fill us, rule us, and shine through us so completely that others no longer see us but Christ in us. This is the goal of surrender—not just being forgiven, but being transformed into vessels for God’s glory.

Chorus – “Mold me and make me after Thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still.”
The chorus captures the posture of a heart ready to be shaped. “Yielded and still” is not passive idleness but intentional quietness before God—Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God.” It reflects the trust of one who no longer wrestles but waits, confident in the wisdom of the Master Potter.

Have Thine Own Way, Lord Sermon Outline:

Stanza 1: The Potter and the Clay

• Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 18:6

• Surrendering to God's shaping

• Letting go of self-will

Stanza 2: Cleansing and Examination

• Psalm 139:23–24; Isaiah 1:18; 1 John 1:7

• Inviting God's truth into hidden places

• True repentance and spiritual purity

Stanza 3: Strength in Weakness

• Matthew 11:28–30; Zechariah 4:6

• Relying on God's strength

• Admitting human frailty and divine sufficiency

Stanza 4: Complete Control and Indwelling Christ

• Galatians 2:20

• The Spirit’s reign in every part of life

• Being a living example of Christ

Chorus: Posture of Submission

• Psalm 46:10

• Waiting with faith and surrender

• Trusting the process of God’s shaping

Call to Action:
Will you let God have His own way with you? Not just in words or moments of crisis—but in every decision, every desire, every direction of your life? This hymn is not merely to be sung—it is to be lived. God is ready to shape your heart, cleanse your soul, and fill your life with purpose. But He will not force His will upon you. You must yield. Today is the day to lay your life in the hands of the Potter and say from the heart, “Have Thine own way, Lord.”

Key Takeaways:

• God is the Potter—we are the clay; we must allow Him to shape our lives (Isaiah 64:8)

• Spiritual transformation requires honest self-examination and cleansing (Psalm 139:23–24)

• God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9)

• Full surrender means Christ lives in us and governs our entire being (Galatians 2:20)

• Yielded submission is an act of trust, not defeat (Psalm 46:10)

Scripture Reference List:

• Isaiah 64:8 – God as our Potter; we as clay

• Jeremiah 18:6 – The Lord shapes nations and people as a potter does clay

• Psalm 139:23–24 – A plea for divine searching and cleansing

• Isaiah 1:18 – God’s promise to cleanse sins as white as snow

• 1 John 1:7 – The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin

• Matthew 11:28–30 – Jesus offers rest to the weary

• Zechariah 4:6 – “Not by might… but by My Spirit”

• Galatians 2:20 – Christ lives in the one who surrenders

• Psalm 46:10 – “Be still, and know that I am God”

Song History:
“Have Thine Own Way, Lord” was written in 1902 by Adelaide A. Pollard, inspired by a missionary disappointment that led her to deeper trust in God’s plan. After attending a prayer meeting, she was moved by a woman’s prayer, “It doesn't matter what You do with us, Lord—just have Your own way.” Pollard composed the lyrics that night, and later, George C. Stebbins composed the melody. The hymn quickly became a classic call to surrender, sung in worship assemblies, revival meetings, and moments of spiritual rededication.

Prepared by David Hersey of the church of Christ at Granby, MO