There’s never been a single moment
when You forced my steps, O Lord;
I have always been free.

I could not resist Your will—
not because You bound me with chains,
but because You refined my heart,
shaped me like clay on the potter’s wheel,
and forged me into a vessel
that could honor You.

I could not ignore Your call—
not because You compelled me to follow,
but because You called me by name,
sought me out when I was wandering,
and numbered me among Your flock.

I could not refrain from partaking—
not because You force-fed me,
but because You gave me a hunger,
filled me with desire,
and let me taste
what I had always longed for.

I could not stop myself from coming to You—
not because You made me walk a mile with You,
but because while I was still far away,
You ran to me,
clothed me with Your robes,
and sacrificed the fatted calf
to celebrate my return.

I could not deny Your invitation—
not because You tricked me or forced my hand,
but because You knew me before my birth,
knit me together in my mother’s womb,
made me fearfully and wonderfully,
planned to give me hope and a future,
and wrote my name
in the Lamb’s book of life.

All the while I ran
with all the strength in my legs,
sure I was running my own race—
while You, O God,
designed the track to lead me to You.

There’s never been a single moment
when You forced my steps, O Lord;
I have always been free—
yet I have always been Yours.