I Sought The Lord

I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew 
 he moved my soul to seek him, seeking me. 
 It was not I that found, O Savior true; 
 no, I was found of thee. 

Thou didst reach forth thy hand and mine enfold; 
 I walked and sank not on the storm-vexed sea. 
 'Twas not so much that I on thee took hold, 
 as thou, dear Lord, on me. 

I find, I walk, I love, but oh, the whole 
 of love is but my answer, Lord, to thee! 
 For thou wert long beforehand with my soul; 
 always thou lovedst me. 

~Anonymous

My favorite setting for this text is that by J. Harold Moyer, as found in The Mennonite Hymnal, published in 1969