I Bind Unto Myself Today (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 450)
1 I bind unto myself today
the strong name of the Trinity
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One and One in Three.
2 I bind this day to me forever,
by power of faith, Christ’s incarnation,
his baptism in the Jordan river,
his death on cross for my salvation,
his bursting from the spiced tomb,
his riding up the heavenly way,
his coming at the day of doom,
I bind unto myself today.
3 I bind unto myself today
the virtues of the starlit heaven,
the glorious sun’s life-giving ray,
the whiteness of the moon at even,
the flashing of the lightning free,
the whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
the stable earth, the deep salt sea
around the old eternal rocks.
4 I bind unto myself today
the power of God to hold and lead,
God’s eye to watch, God’s might to stay,
God’s ear to hearken to my need,
the wisdom of my God to teach,
God’s hand to guide, God’s shield to ward,
the word of God to give me speech,
God’s heavenly host to be my guard.
5 Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
6 I bind unto myself the name,
the strong name of the Trinity
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One and One in Three,
of whom all nature has creation,
eternal Father, Spirit, Word.
Praise to the Lord of my salvation;
salvation is of Christ the Lord!
Text: Patrick, paraphrase Cecil Frances Alexander; Music: Irish; Public Domain
Devotion
Over the loudspeaker in the airport I kept hearing, “May I have your attention please.” The words of this hymn, attributed to St. Patrick, come from a prayer that is known as lorica. Lorica means breastplate or armor, and the hymn calls us to put on Christ for protection. God is saying to us, “May I have your attention please.” Look around and know I am the God who is three in one and one in three. I am the God who dwells among you, in you, and I am always everywhere and will never abandon you.
Bind is a strong word which means to cling, to fasten, or hold tightly. To what or whom do we cling to get through the day? Is it the God of abundance, the God who is before us, around us, and within us, or do we cling to our own strength, and fail to hear God calling us? Each day may we stop, look around, and listen for God calling to us: “May I have your attention please!”
Prayer
God, may your strength lead us, your might uphold us, your wisdom guide us, your eyes watch over us, and your shield protect us. Thank you for the many ways you use to get our attention. Amen.