Is Your Need and Gratitude Just Theory or Part of Your DNA?

10/13/2025

When I was 15 and 16 years old, when over at a friend’s house, the dad would play this song on a loop, hour after hour. He had been an alcoholic, and this was his song now. I had no interest in spiritual things for years to come, but this song means more to me today, and for the past decades, than I can even express. It’s theme? “When you’re converted, when your eyes are opened to what’s real, and you’re ready to live and die (and Live!) there on the altar, strengthen your brothers and sisters with what you’ve learned.”

Why me, Lord, what have I ever done

To deserve even one

Of the pleasures I’ve known

Tell me, Lord, what did I ever do

That was worth loving You

Or the kindness You’ve shown

Lord, help me, Jesus, I’ve wasted it

So help me, Jesus, I know what I am

But now that I know that I’ve needed You

So Help me, Jesus, my soul’s in Your hand

Try me, Lord, if You think there’s a way

I can try to repay

All I’ve taken from You

Maybe, Lord, I can show someone else

What I’ve been through myself

On my way back to You

Lord, help me, Jesus, I’ve wasted it

So help me, Jesus, I know what I am

But now that I know that I’ve needed You

So help me, Jesus, my soul’s in Your hand

Lord, help me, Jesus, I’ve wasted it

So help me, Jesus, I know what I am

But now that I know that I’ve needed You

So help me, Jesus, my soul’s in Your hand

Jesus, my soul’s in Your hand

Some may wonder why I sent this again, some years later than the first time.

It’s not exactly a “litmus test”—because we are generally as humans VERY SLOW LEARNERS, even with pure intentions—and our awakening (to even what we THINK is important to us) happens over time. It is more like “titration” of life and circumstance and failure and our choices when we are embarrassed—than litmus paper.

But here is why I sent this song again.

IF
You
Don’t
REALLY
FEEL
This
Song...
You
Are
In
A
Club,
Not
Jesus.

I can’t impress this on all of us enough, “It keeps me up at night”:

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:17

“I have not come for those unaware or unconvinced deeply in their hearts—separate and apart from anyone and anything else, any other motives or stimuli or ‘ALSO this’—but for sinners, those who come running for the Doctor.”

Where do you stand? Dig deep and find out. It won’t be your good intentions, your good deeds, your knowledge, your friends that make you Whole. That’s a club. That is entirely unsustainable. You just don’t see it yet.

Do you only “theoretically” know of your deep need, dependence, and illness apart from His intervention and care? Or is your need, and your gratitude (as in this song and so many discussions we all have had), part of your cellular and DNA makeup, in every pore of your being, every minute? As in this song.

That’s why I sent it again. It should echo in our souls as it has in me for a very long time, in spite of 10,000 failings and flaws. Isn’t that the point?

Why me, Lord, what have I ever done

To deserve even one

Of the pleasures I’ve known

Tell me, Lord, what did I ever do

That was worth loving You

Or the kindness You’ve shown

Lord, help me, Jesus, I’ve wasted it

So help me, Jesus, I know what I am

But now that I know that I’ve needed You

So Help me, Jesus, my soul’s in Your hand

Try me, Lord, if You think there’s a way

I can try to repay

All I’ve taken from You

Maybe, Lord, I can show someone else

What I’ve been through myself

On my way back to You

Lord, help me, Jesus, I’ve wasted it

So help me, Jesus, I know what I am

But now that I know that I’ve needed You

So help me, Jesus, my soul’s in Your hand

Lord, help me, Jesus, I’ve wasted it

So help me, Jesus, I know what I am

But now that I know that I’ve needed You

So help me, Jesus, my soul’s in Your hand

Jesus, my soul’s in Your hand

(Kris Kristofferson)