Soft edges of a rose I thought my own discipline held back the night. I thought my own hands kept the feathers white. I built a fortress of my own resolve. I outsmarted the vipers. But the venom was already in my blood. Yeah, I ran faster than the rest of the pack Carried the weight of the law on my back Swept out the temple, polished the cup Claiming the victory all on my way up I put in the hours, I built up the towers, I fought off the cowardly lions and powers was it me who was steering the ship, keeping the grip, avoiding the slip But I look at the road, the math is a lie The strength in my bones didn't come from my try Every step that I took was a gift. Every weight that I carried, He chose to lift. I labored in darkness, I labored in light. But grace was the engine, and grace was the might. Not my own hands, Not my own will. I climbed up the mountain, But He moved the hill. I worked to the bone, I outlasted the test, But the ghost in the machine is the Savior's breath. You think you can navigate, calculate, separate flesh from the spirit by forcing the gate? The heart is deceitful, the sickness is deep, the shepherd is waking the dead from their sleep! I boasted in wisdom, I boasted in sweat But grace paid the balance and canceled the debt! I swung the sword, I planted the seed But Heaven alone was supplying the need! I am nothing without the spark. I was just a dead man walking in the dark. IT WAS NEVER MY STRENGTH! IT WAS NEVER MY MIGHT! HE GAVE ME THE EYES! HE GAVE ME THE SIGHT! NOT I BUT GRACE! NOT I BUT GRACE! I RAN THE MARATHON! HE WON THE RACE! SHATTER THE PRIDE! EMPTY THE THRONE! THE GLORY IS HIS! HIS ALONE! The feathers are white... Because they were washed. I labored in vain... Until I was caught. Wise as the serpent. Innocent as the dove. But only by grace. Only by love.
