"In 1902, Adelaide A. Pollard, a hymn writer, was hoping to go to Africa as a missionary but found herself unable to raise the needed funds to make the journey. Greatly discouraged, she attended a prayer service one evening and as she sat there, she overheard an elderly woman say 'It really doesn't matter what you do with us, Lord, just have your own way with our lives.' The elderly woman inspired Pollard and she contemplated the story of the potter from Jeremiah 18:3 and, upon her return home that evening, wrote all four stanzas before retiring for the night.
Five years later George Stebbins wrote a tune titled 'Adelaide' to accompany the text."
(source)
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.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Last but not least, I found a YouTube video of Johnny Cash singing the song. I like the way he starts over again about 37 seconds in, because he apparently began in the wrong key. I like this not only because it's "real," but because it underscores the message of the song.
YouTube video The late Johnny Cash (our brother) singing
"Have Thine Own Way, Lord"
These lyrics are perfect. I'm learning this song by heart this week.
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* My apologies for citing Wikipedia rather than Wikipedia's sources. The references for the story and lyrics are listed on the Wikipedia page but are not accessible online.