How great the struggle, unrelenting,
Of man to live in life anew,
Sometimes the soul is glad consenting,
Yet all too often it will not do.
The things we would we do not,
Though sure we know for best
That He intends them for us
So we might be full blessed.
Instead the things we would not
Prevail against our mind,
And soon we’re cast full downward
By sin it’s pleasures blind.
Then follows the regret,
We’ve felt it many times,
It passes soon and we forget
The pain of many crimes.
Pain for which Christ Jesus died,
His love to us is fully known,
God’s grace and mercy like a tide,
Why then to sin are we so prone?
Oh wretched man I am,
How will I then be free?
Thanks be to God for Christ raised up,
Life new can surely be.
Whilst prone to doubt and question
If this is all I need,
May God help me by faith to hold,
With Spirit help proceed.
By mercies of the living God,
By future looking eye,
To serve today Him only,
The struggle to defy.
