Lyrics: J.W. Van Deventer
Music: W.S. Weeden
Theme: Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2.

Mr. Van DeVenter: “The song was written while I was conducting a meeting at East Palestine, Ohio, in the home of George Sebring. For some time, I had struggled between developing my talents in the field of art and going into full-time evangelistic work. At last the pivotal hour of my life came, and I surrendered all. A new day was ushered into my life. I became an evangelist and discovered down deep in my soul a talent hitherto unknown to me. God had hidden a song in my heart, and touching a tender chord, He caused me to sing.”

Kalyn at Nations Around Our Table: “This young man, who I later fell helplessly in love with, played “I Surrender All”. I was so moved by the SURRENDER of praise and worship that I saw in this church. Women danced beautiful African dances to other songs . . .”

Mark at A Call to Compassion: “I was listening to a newer version of the great hymn, ‘I Surrender All’ the other day. In really listening to those words, I had to ask myself honestly if I could truly say that and mean it – ‘All to Jesus I surrender, all to him I freely give.’ Is there anything in my life that I wouldn’t gladly & joyfully give up in a moment without hesitation?”

1. 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.

2. All to Jesus I surrender;
humbly at his feet I bow,
worldly pleasures all forsaken;
take me, Jesus, take me now.
(Refrain)

3. All to Jesus I surrender;
make me, Savior, wholly thine;
fill me with thy love and power;
truly know that thou art mine.
(Refrain)

4. 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)

5. All to Jesus I surrender;
now I feel the sacred flame.
O the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory, to his name!
(Refrain)

While researching this hymn, I found this website for Friendship Baptist Church in St. Petersburg, Florida, and it has sound files for each of the hymns in the 1975 Baptist Hymnal and the 1991 Baptist Hymnal. You must understand that I grew up with the 1975 Baptist Hymnal. That book is where I learned most of the hymns I know. I have since developed an interest in and a taste for lots of different kinds of music, but this is my heritage. And the sound files at Friendship Baptist’s website are mostly instrumental versions played on organ and piano in an old timey-Baptist way. So. Cool.

Sources:
Hymnsite: Suggested Hymns for September 6, 1998.
Friendship Baptist Church in St. Petersburg, Florida.