Trinity Hymnal (Rev. ed.) ‎#687

687. Make Me a Captive, Lord

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1 Make me a captive, Lord,
and then I shall be free;
force me to render up my sword,
and I shall conqu'ror 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 I have 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 (1890)
• Meter: S.M.D.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1990
• Scripture:
  Matthew 10:39
  ;
  Romans 6:22
• Topic: The Christian Life: Submission; Heart: Surrendered

Tune Information

• Name: PARADOXY
• Composer: Donald P. Hustad (1953)
• Meter: S.M.D.
• Key: D Major
• Copyright: Tune © 1953. Renewal 1981, Hope Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Used by permission.