In Christ Alone by Stuart Townend

I wanted to start a new section in this blog: Encouragement. There have been many songs that have encouraged me the last years as I've wrestled with abandonment while being misunderstood and attacked. The truth of God's word through song is powerful. I've written the lyrics with a prayer interwoven...

Song and prayer:

1.

In Christ alone my hope is found,

Lord, though situations seem hopeless, You are the resurrected Lord. We hope in a God who not merely used this power for our salvation but uses that same power on our behalf.

He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

My wait for you needn't be a funeral procession. You are my truth. You strengthen me. You enable me to live in joy. You are firm and solid despite the raging storms of tumultuous relationships.

What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!

As we lay at times weary from unfulfilled longings and unsuccessful reconciliations, you are able to pierce through the discouragement to illuminate our position of "loved" instead of lonely... comforted instead of abandoned. You are able to bring us peace in the midst of our frantic efforts to "finally succeed". You are able to release and adore who you made us to be rather than allow us to continue driving ourselves to achieve things and/or love that are not meant for us.

My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.

We stand then, not in who we are, but in who you have created us to be. Fallen, yes ... but loved! ... unique ... purposefully so! We stand in our fallen uniqueness because that is what you made. It is what you cherish. It is the reason for our rest.


2.

In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:

As I have been misunderstood, I confess my false accusations of you. Frustrated by my own inabilities, I have scorned you rather than receive Your gift of love and acceptance. I have desired your gifts rather than you.

Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

Lord, though I deserve your disapproval and wrath, I can stand unafraid. Though others try to shame me, my refusal to accept this shame is not self-righteousness but utter dependency on righteousness not my own... a "righteousness that is stronger than all my sin." Though my scorn of you was so much greater than any scorn done to me, I stand in your presence because of your great, pursuing, self-sacrificial love for me.


3.

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:

How frustrating that truth is, at times, slain.

Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!

But, it is slain for just a moment!

And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

Alleluia! As you now stand in victory, you remove the curse of slain-truth. Though my situation is unknown to most and I appear cruel and bitter, I can stand! Though some of their accusations be true, I can stand! I am bought... chosen... wanted! I am worthy... bought at a precious price!


4.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,

Lord, help me as I chose to believe your Word and walk through life refusing to be weighed down by the burdens of guilt and shame. Just as I know I will be with you in heaven forgiven of my sins, I can live with you on earth... forgiven of my sins!

This is the power of Christ in me;

I can do this with Christ's resurrection power alone! It is supernatural and you give it to me.

From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.

Lord, this is your plan for me!

No power of hell, no scheme of man,

Can ever pluck me from His hand;

Satan cannot hurt me. The cruel scheming of man cannot overtake me! They cannot remove me from the love, acceptance and relationship I have with you. You have won me and I am in your grip.... irremovable!

Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

Lord, by the grace and power of Christ, I stand with you now and forever more. Amen!