I’ve got a witness not too stable
It wouldn’t get me very far
I’ve got one hand on the table
And one in the cookie jar
I’ve got sins that need eviction
From a temple that’s a wreck
I’ve got a chain of contradiction
Hanging around my neck
So I go down, I go down, down
I go down on my knees

I feel the bitter winds grow colder
They are dancing with my pride
I’ve got a chip on my shoulder
Bigger than a mountainside
And these claws of human nature
Hold me tight within their clasp
I’m not worthy of forgiveness
But I just had to ask
So I go down, I go down, down
I go down on my knees

Feed my hunger – slake my thirst
For a spiritual rebirth
Light my darkness
Move in me
Make me more than what you see
As I go down on my knees

When I’ve all but killed the fire
And my soul’s in desperate need
But I wallow in the mire of complacency
That’s when I go down on my knees
I want to taste the fruit I’m missing
And yet I feast only on the bread
My desire’s alive and kicking
But my drive is dead
So I go down on my knees

Feed my hunger – slake my thirst
For a spiritual rebirth
Light my darkness
Move in me
Make me more than what you see
As I go down on my knees

You bear the weight of condemnation
Cleansing with the blood of truth
So with my humble acclamation
I want to give myself to you
So I go down, I go down, down
I go down on my knees
I go down, I go down, yea
I go down on my knees
I go down, I go down, down
I go down on my knees

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Wayne Kirkpatrick

Dear God, I think Wayne Kirkpatrick is an underrated songwriter. I remember when this album coming out 30 years ago and noticing that he wrote a lot of the songs. The lyrics are great and obviously written by someone who knows what working out their faith with fear and trembling through the trials of life is like. I put Ashton’s first two albums on yesterday while I worked out and was brought back to some really great songs from my past. So I thought I would start today with her first single that shot up the charts of Christian music, “Down on my Knees.”

To look at the lyrics of this song, it’s all about the internal (and outward) hypocrisy and struggle against our nature that we experience as Christians. The first verse just exemplifies Paul’s words in Romans 7 when he talks about struggling with sin. In verse 15 he says, “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.” I think anyone who has submitted themselves to discipleship and following you has felt these internal emotions. Kirkpatrick definitely has, and Ashton did a great job articulating it:

I’ve got one had on the table and one in the cookie jar.

I’ve got sins that need eviction from a temple that’s a wreck

I’ve got a chain of contradiction hanging around my neck

These claws of human nature hold me tight within their clasp

I’ve all but killed the fire and my soul’s in desperate need, but I wallow in the mire of complacency

I want to taste the fruit I’m missing, but I feast only on the bread

My desire’s alive and kicking, but my drive is dead

So what do I do with all of this? That’s when I come here in prayer to you. That’s when I go down on my knees and humbly repent and ask you to:

Feed my hunger

Slake my thirst

Light my darkness

Move in me

Make me more than what you see

And when I do that, here’s what you do:

You bear the weight of condemnation

[Cleanse me] with the blood of truth

Father, sometimes this life in you is just about slogging away each day–each moment. Slogging against my lethargy and self-indulgence. Seeking your forgiveness and your strength. Asking you to move through me in to the world in ways that I’m not capable of on my own, yet they will help you to enter the world and let your kingdom come and will be done on earth as it is in heaven. So, please give me this day my daily bread. And forgive me as I forgive others. Help me be strong against temptation. Deliver me from Satan’s plans. For the kingdom, power, and glory are yours, now and forever.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen