CONSTRAIN US, GLORIOUS LORD

That We May Never Leave Us

Spurgeon has a way of saying things, doesn’t he? At first glance, I wasn’t drawn into this devotional. But, after reading and meditating on it anyway, I became so stirred in my heart. Perhaps it was because I love words and greatly respect those who, like Spurgeon, are wordcrafters, carefully selecting each word to convey the fullness of meaning that would take many of us a boatload of words. This quote from his devotional today contains a word that spoke volumes; if he had chosen any other word in its place, the impact would have been much less profound.

"Glorious Lord, constrain us that we may never leave thee, but dwell by the well of the living God.” The word constrain jumped off the page at me, not because it’s an odd word, but it’s one that isn’t often used in this context.

Mirriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary gives this definition for constrain: to force by imposed stricture, restriction, or limitation; to restrict the motion of (a mechanical body) to a particular mode; compress; to clasp tightly; to secure by or as if by bonds; confine; to hold back by or as if by force.

This is my prayer today, that He would clasp us tightly, secure us or restrict our motion so as to never move far from Him.

I want nothing more in life than to be found faithful to Him in every way, bringing Him the glory due His Name … that even as He constrains me to never move far from Him, I might continue to decrease (as I must) in order that He might increase (as He must).

“… constrain us that we may never leave thee,” amen!

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NOTE: Based on C. H. Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening: Daily Readings