The psalm is familiar to many as a psalm of comfort, in, for example, funeral services. The programme received high ratings and Boyles performance was quickly added to sites such as YouTube, where millions of people viewed it in the first month. But those trophies could not equal to the grace by which I stand. In Christ alone will I glory Though I could pride myself in battles won For Ive been blessed measure And by His strength alone Ill overcome Oh, I could stop and count successes like diamonds in my hands But those trophies could not equal to the grace by which I stand In Christ alone I place my trust And find my glory in the power of the cross in every victory let it be said of me my source. Oh, I could stop and count successes like diamonds in my hands.
I never set out to write a new musical version of this psalm – it seems very brave, or very arrogant, to think you can improve on the existing hymn version, which has been loved and sung by millions of people for so long! I was actually working on a different song at the time, which after several hours’ hard work was not going well… I happened to flick to this psalm in my Bible while taking a break, a simple melody popped into my head, and the whole thing was written in ten minutes (something I wish as a writer would happen more often to me!). Though I could pride myself in battles won.