Sing Joyfully ‎#409

409. Make Me a Captive, Lord

1 Make me a captive, Lord,
And then I shall be free;
Force me to render up my sword,
And I shall conqueror be;
I sink in life's alarms
When by myself I stand;
Imprison me within Thine arms,
And strong shall be my hand.

2 My heart is weak and poor
Until it master find;
It has no spring of action sure--
It varies with the wind;
It cannot freely move
Till Thou hast wrought its chain;
Enslave it with Thy matchless love,
And deathless it shall reign.

3 My pow'r is faint and low
Till I have learned to serve;
It wants the needed fire to glow,
It wants the breeze to nerve;
It cannot drive the world
Until itself be driv'n;
Its flag can only be unfurled
When Thou shalt breathe from heav'n.

4 My will is not my own
Till Thou hast made it Thine;
If it would reach a monarch's throne
It must its crown resign;
It only stands unbent,
Amid the clashing strife,
When on Thy bosom it has leaned,
And found in Thee its life.

Text Information

• First Line: Make me a captive, Lord
• Title: Make Me a Captive, Lord
• Author: George Matheson
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1989
• Topic: Obedience; Surrender; Victory

Tune Information

• Name: [Make me a captive, Lord]
• Composer: Donald P. Hustad
• Key: D Major
• Copyright: © 1953, Ren. 1981 Hope Publishing Co.