Thursday, August 16, 2012

Hunger for Holiness


One of my favourite Christian artists of the 90's was Carman, who wrote the following song which reflects the battle that rages within as I pursue a life of holiness:


There’s a silent war that’s raging deep within me
My lower nature fights to dominate
My spirit man is poised and locked in battle
With the carnal side of me I’ve grown to hate

The trumpet of my prayers play towards heaven
A voice of desperation in my cry
Lord strengthen me that I might not yield myself to sin
But keep Your righteous banner lifted high

Lord, I hunger for holiness
And I thirst for the righteousness that’s Yours
That my mind would be cleansed
And my spirit renewed
And this temple that You dwell in would be pure

The tempter stalks about me as a lion
Searching for the slightest scent of blood
For when the skin of my resistance is broken
He moves in swiftly to deepen the cut

Oh, Lord of creation hear Your servant
You understand the weaknesses of men
I’m counting myself crucified with Jesus
Alive to Christ and dead indeed to sin

Lord, I hunger for holiness
And I thirst for the righteousness that’s Yours
That my mind would be cleansed
And my spirit renewed
And this temple that You dwell in would be pure

Words & Music by Carman 1990