Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me
One of the things I find encouraging in modern Christian songwriting is the desire to provide biblically and theologically rich worship songs for the church, not just writing songs for airtime on Christian radio. There are many individuals (i.e., Andrew Peterson) and groups (i.e., Indelible Grace) doing this well. CityAlight is doing it well, too!
Who is CityAlight? They are a music ministry from an Anglican church in Castle Hill, Sydney, Australia, called St. Paul’s Castle Hill. The vision of CityAlight is to write songs with biblically rich lyrics and simple melodies for the Christian church to sing. They have three albums: Yours Alone (2014), Only a Holy God (2016), and Yet Not I (2018).
This song/hymn, “Yet Not I but Through Christ in Me” is outstanding. It is deep, rich, encouraging, hopeful, and Christ-honoring. I pray it blesses you as it has me! You can listen to CityAlight sing this song here.
What gift of grace is Jesus my redeemer
There is no more for heaven now to give
He is my joy, my righteousness, and freedom
My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace
To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
For my life is wholly bound to his
Oh how strange and divine, I can sing: all is mine!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
The night is dark but I am not forsaken
For by my side, the Saviour He will stay
I labour on in weakness and rejoicing
For in my need, His power is displayed
To this I hold, my Shepherd will defend me
Through the deepest valley He will lead
Oh the night has been won, and I shall overcome!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
No fate I dread, I know I am forgiven
The future sure, the price it has been paid
For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon
And He was raised to overthrow the grave
To this I hold, my sin has been defeated
Jesus now and ever is my plea
Oh the chains are released, I can sing: I am free!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
With every breath I long to follow Jesus
For He has said that He will bring me home
And day by day I know He will renew me
Until I stand with joy before the throne
To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
All the glory evermore to Him
When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat:
Yet not I, but through Christ in me!