Jesus,
So long I’ve walked, long without living for you,
Fooled,
By the world, by pain, by false religion,
Happy,
But not happy enough,
Breathing,
But not really living.

Simply, did I look to serve you, being no more than an example of a good person,
Tired,
Of intimacy once a year, but looking for more.
Struggling on this walk, this hike when the thorns grasped my heels,
And I let go of the light that led me through the valley,
I let go, but pretended to hang on,
For the thorns were curious,
And I did not yet feel the pain.

Me,
A wall,
You.
Then I realized,
The thorns were dragging me to a pit of fire.
Then I realized,

My Jesus, You hung on that cross,
My Jesus, with sin I watched you flogged, and turned my back on you,
My Jesus, I joined the crowds spitting and condemning,
My Jesus, with sad eyes you looked on me as I nailed you to the cross.
And prayed that by your blood I might be forgiven and free.

Hallelujah, I broke and wept,
And the blood that spilt from Your body,
Made me clean,
And I’m forgiven,
And I’m FREE.

For by mercy, you picked me up by the hand.
For by grace, I’m forgiven.
For by your blood,
by the love of Christ, I am saved.

With chains on the floor I stand and I walk.

Luke 9:23-25
23 Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?”