Unmerited favour was mine... the day I first believed,
When You, by grace, sent love divine... the day that I received,
Yet life's temptations made me frown... to melt my faith away...
Till one by one, they took me down... because I chose to stray...
From grace I fell, I stood alone... condemned by God and Man,
Departing from my Saviour's Throne... devoid of any plan...
An aimless soul, a broken heart... a lost sheep once again...
No self-control and no fresh start... a man like other men...

And days went by, then months, then years... then decades slowly, too.
And still I strayed, held back my tears... despite the truths I knew,
That God is able to forgive... if humble we would be,
More willing that we still might live... because of Calvary...
Yet one day came, the day I wept... my heart cried out once more,
A day of fasting then was kept... like those I kept before...
And years of sins were washed away... thanks to my Saviour's Blood,
The tide was turned and so I pray... to You, Almighty God...

Accept this sinner to be blessed... for once I was baptised,
Forgive the worst, enhance the best... the best that comes through Christ...
If not, there's nothing I can do... but ask, Thy Will be done...
Like Jesus Christ, who prayed to You... because He was Your Son...

Denis Martindale March 2018.