Honest Lyrics

This morning, I heard several praise and worship songs on the radio. Lyrics like, "All I do, I do for You, Jesus. All I go through, I do for You, Jesus." Or, "Every step I take, I take in You." Every time I hear a song or hymn with these types of lyrics, I struggle to relate. When I think about it (and be brutally honest with myself) I realize that many "steps I take" are not taken in Christ, but for myself. It would be impossible for me to claim that "all" I do is for Christ. It is lyrics like this that are frustrating because it's hard to take them as representing reality. They may represent a feeling and desire to live in such a way, free of selfishness and full of devotion, but I find that I so easily function in selfishness and my devotion so easily turns to my own agenda. 

If I were to write these lyrics over, I would insert, "Lord, help me to..." As a father, husband, in-law, etc. I would have to write lyrics that would in fact say, "Lord, help me to listen even when I don't feel like it." "Lord, give me love so I can be patient and kind." "Lord, help me follow your steps so my children will follow mine to You." Most of all, my song would always have to include, "Lord, forgive me for doing it all for me and not for You." So many songs have been written over the past couple of centuries that reflect desires to be good disciples. But we also need those songs that remind us how we fall short of that desire and can only rely on the "amazing grace" that would save "a wretch" like me. The Lord is amazing and I pray that I will rely on Him more to make my life into a song that honors Him above all. I need His song in my life, because it is evident that I am no song writer.