Red Mountain Music’s new album, All Things New, has been monopolizing my personal airwaves since Tuesday. I wrote my review in haste, for a fourth “favorite” song has appeared. The longer I am a Christian, the more I realize that sin “slides itself into my prayer.” The longer I am a worship leader, the more I truly feel how, Sunday after Sunday, “sin twines itself about my praise.” This makes me cry, because in some sense, I can be no more righteous than this. This is my plight until the day I die. And yet, I am loved radically, and the blood of Christ covers me: “The Lord shall be my righteousness.” Thank you, Red Mountain, for this offering.
The Lord Forever Mine
My God! how perfect are Thy ways!
But mine polluted are;
Sin twines itself about my praise,
And slides into my prayer.
When I would speak what Thou hast done
To save me from my sin;
I cannot make Thy mercies known
But self-applause creeps in.
Divine desire, that holy flame
Thy grace creates in me;
Alas! impatience is its name,
When it returns to Thee.
*This heart, a fountain of vile thoughts,
How does it overflow?
While self upon the surface floats
Still bubbling from below.
Let others in the gaudy dress
Of fancied merit shine;
The Lord shall be my righteousness
The Lord for ever mine.
Words: William Cowper, 1779
*this verse not included in the recording