Thomas a Kempis, a Catholic monk from the 15th century and author of The Imitation of Christ penned a beautiful prayer that I clumsily set to music a few years back and attempted to sing. The words express our need for utter dependence upon God. Steve Camp has posted a hymn by Isaac Watts with a similar cry on his blog.
The words are below, and a video with the song entitled "If You" follows . . .
O Lord there can be no goodness in us
if You withdraw Yourself
No wisdom can benefit us if You cease to guide
No strength can preserve us if You no longer defend
No purity can be secure if You do not guard it
No watchfulness of our own can protect us
if You don't keep watch
If You abandon us we are soon lost
But if You come to us with Your grace
We're lifted up to live again
We are weak but You make us strong
We are cold and dull but by You we are set ablaze
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