Song Lists

The Christmas story is a beautiful invitation. It's an invitation for all to come and see the love of God for people. When Jesus came from heaven to earth, a miracle happened that day. The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. God became like one of us! The Creator stepped into creation. He stepped into the darkness and brokenness of the world so we could experience the light and life of God for ourselves. The night Jesus was born, the heavenly hosts went to the outskirts of town to let a group of shepherds know “a Savior has been born.” The angels marveled that Christ had come to rescue and redeem, and they lit up the skies with the thunderous praise of God. That night an invitation went out: go into Bethlehem to see the One who will bring peace to the whole earth. That same invitation has gone out to you. There is One who can bring peace to your soul. He came so you would not have to wander around blinded by sin and shame. He came to give you life and life to the full. In response to this invitation, we can bring our hearts and our lives as an offering to the newborn King. We can join the song of heaven. We can bring our highest hallelujah, our most sincere praise. Because Jesus brought heaven to us, we can bring our worship to Him. Based on the song Highest Hallelujah by Matt Maher, Jacob Sooter, Brett Younker, Stefan Cashwell. Original post by Passion Music available on YouVersion based on the album - Hope Has A Name by Passion.

It is right to praise You, to bring the sacrifice You deserve. For those forgiven much, dare not forget Your touch, cannot withhold Your praise Scriptures: Revelation 2:18-29 (NIV) Devotional: “These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.” - Revelation 2:18-19 (NIV) In ancient and Jewish thought, to use the title 'Son' was to equate oneself with the very nature and likeness of the person or thing one was referring to. So, when Scripture says, “the Son of God,” this clearly denotes equality with God. This is important to understand. Jesus is speaking to the church of Thyatira through the Apostle John, and He establishes that first and foremost, He is God. In other words: King. The image of Christ's deity is written out even further as the verse continues: “whose eyes are like blazing fire.” This communicates the just judgment of the Son of God—He looks at our lives with righteousness and holiness, both clearly and yet with power. The picture continues, “whose feet are like burnished bronze.” This is meant to communicate Christ's purity and strength. Images of the powerful and awe inspiring Son of God are all throughout Revelation, and ultimately, they should inspire and lead us to worship Jesus. To pray or sing words like:“It is right to praise You, to bring the sacrifice You deserve. For those forgiven much, dare not forget Your touch, cannot withhold Your praise”. In other words, when we have had an experience with the living Son of God, or our minds have somewhat grasped these images in Revelation, the appropriate or fitting response is to praise Him for his goodness and glory. In fact, we often cannot withhold the praise we long to give Jesus after an encounter with Him. Interestingly, as we behold this image of the Son of God in glory, we can have confidence that He sees us as well. The next verse in this passage says, “I know your deeds, your love and faith…” Thyatira was the smallest and most insignificant of the cities that the seven letters of Revelation are written to, but how encouraging that despite their significance by human standards, they are seen, known, and loved by God! He sees us, too—with eyes ablazing and purity of heart. This should astonish us. A God so worthy of glory and honor, One surrounded by heavenly creatures who sing “holy, holy, holy” without end—this God!—sees us. He is that glorious and equally that kind and good. Amen. Original post by Brooke Ligertwood available on YouVersion. A seven-day devotional through the 'seven letters' to the churches in the book of Revelation (chapters 2-3). Each devotional will study a different letter to the churches of Revelation, focusing on themes of communion, devotion, discipleship, repentance, evangelism (and more), as well as featuring lyrics and music from songs throughout the Album SEVEN by Brooke Ligertwood.

Jesus is the embodiment of God's grace toward us. He is the real life, God-in-flesh, full-on expression of God's love and heart to save and rescue His children. He is the living evidence that God would move Heaven and Earth to not only meet us in our brokenness but also make a way to lead us out into life everlasting. What makes this truth all the more amazing is that Jesus, who was born in a manger, is now and always has been enthroned above all eternity. When our King spoke the word “light,” there was light. He is the holy eternal King, sovereign over all. Throughout the story of Scripture, God has been telling us that our Savior King would come to rescue us from our sin and shame. The prophet Isaiah says that our King is a “Wonderful Counselor” and a “Mighty God.” He says our King has come to establish a kingdom that is greater than any government on the face of the earth. Justice and peace will reign true in this kingdom of God. When the eyes of our hearts get even a glimpse to see that our majestic King Jesus was born to forgive the sins of mankind, we can't help but sing “Glory to God” forever and ever. Based on the song Grace Of God With Us by Ben Fielding, Brett Younker, Aodhan King. Original post by Passion Music available on YouVersion based on the album - Hope Has A Name by Passion.

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” - 1 John 4:7-10 I've heard it said that we spend most of our adult years trying to get back to the purity of the childlike place when we were young, before we were confused by the brokenness of our influences and our darkened world. We are born with brokenness inside of us and look to thousands of different things to fill our void, most of which leave us more broken than before. We are looking for someone or something who will heal us and unveil truth to us. We learn from our parents. Oftentimes, we find ourselves regurgitating the very words or the very things they said or did first to us. We learn how to walk, to talk, to act, to hate, to love, to gossip, to rejoice, to put down, to build up, to abandon, to abuse, to fight, to make decisions and to decide what to believe. We learn very good, beautiful things from our parents and we also learn detrimental, destructive things. Even if our parents were wonderful, they were still broken too. We still continue on our search for how to live and how to be. As we grow older and become adults, we learn we are responsible for our actions and we experience the painful consequences. We run into walls, we bleed, we toil, we strive and yet we're still broken. The beautiful thing is that oftentimes, the more broken we are, the clearer we are able to see past all the false fillers and we can see that the love of God is the only thing that will fill the void in our soul. We quit trying to keep up our pretenses, we quit trying to elevate ourselves to feel better, we quit running to cheap things to fill ourselves. We meet our true Parent, our true Father, the Perfect One Who has been loving us all the while and patiently waiting for us to realize that He is ready to fill us with Himself and help us relearn life through the lenses of Love. Our guard comes crashing down when we see that it's not about how cleaned up, nor how rebellious we can be to get attention. We have been loved all the while. We come to know God and understand Him as His love takes control and fills our souls and runs over into the lives of those around us. God is Love, in Him there is no darkness. We are His children and we belong to Love. Based on the song Child Of Love by Ed Cash, Scott Cash, Franni Cash, Andrew Bergthold, Martin Cash, Kyle Briskin. Original post by We The Kingdom is available on YouVersion based on the album Holy Water.

“So now, what can I ever give back to God to repay him for the blessings he's poured out on me? I will lift up his cup of salvation and praise him extravagantly for all that he's done for me.” Psalm 116:12-13 (TPT) What can I give back to God for the goodness He has poured out on me? I will praise His name. I will lift up the cup of salvation. In The Message version of Psalm 116, Eugene Peterson uses the word “toast.” He says, “I'll lift high the cup of salvation—a toast to God!” How fitting! A toast is usually given when a group of people are gathered for a celebration to bring honor and praise to someone. Standing in the courts of the King, if we were to give a toast to God, what would we all be thinking? In that moment what would we, the children of God, say to our Savior? Almighty God forever You reignwe worship Youfor even the grave You overcomewe magnifyYour people rejoicewith hands held highfor every sin You overcome Based on the song Almighty God. Original post by Passion Music available on YouVersion based on the album - Whole Heart by Passion Music.

I was soaking in Maverick City Music / Elevation Worship's song Jireh this weekend and I feel stretched. At the first phrase, my chest tightened, and a lump of emotion rose in my throat catching my breath -- I'll never be more loved than I am right now. Do I believe that when I have Him, I have everything? Do I believe that He is enough? It's more than you ask, think or imagineAccording to His power, it's working in usIt's more than enough Walking the dog with this song speaking to my heart, I realized the words hit me hard because of how sickly contradictory the world can feel right now. I haven't noticed the boldness of others trusting in God's provision, or witnessed courage and confidence in the face of calamity. Maybe it is my job, or my social media platforms? Maybe it is just situational with our current circumstances? But what seems to be more visible is a message like this: don't trust anyone; protect yourself, be on guard! Some hold firm to the belief that those in authority are out to get them, so be cautious and don't believe what they say. Extreme responses and conspiracy theories pop up on every social platform. They are all too familiar. Be vigilant ... be wary — question everything. We tend towards cognitive bias; a confirmation bias based on overvaluing the information confirming our already-established beliefs and expectations. Our preferences can be rigid, leaving us immovable and unwilling to engage our curiosity to consider alternative perspectives. Interactions quickly deteriorate if our primary goal in communication is to hear we are right. The evidence of this is everywhere. Navigating around the cesspool of opinions feels dangerous. When I manage to offer the grace or understanding or lay down my expectations and face someone's disapproval without blowing my top or losing my mind or wits, I look for a reward. I want someone to notice and say, "Good job, I saw you didn't fight back,...good for you for taking the higher road!" or, "Hey, well done for showing so much patience!" Honestly, please give me a gold star or a button to wear because loving difficult people is exhausting. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. (Matthew 7:3-5, NIV) I will tell you something I have learned about myself: my love is shakeable, circumstantial, and dependent on how I feel. I gravitate towards those who are easy to love and find myself avoiding the people who are difficult to love. There, I said it! I avoid difficult people. I am not proud of the way I hide, but I am so aware of my need for Jesus when I make this explicit. No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV) We can't love our critics without Jesus. Look around you. Read those political threads. Witness the virus debate, the vaccine dialogue, and the COVID conversations: our love is fickle. Our love goes up in flames when our opinions or perspectives feel attacked. We justify our cruel, critical commentary, becoming instant experts because we disagree. Allow this thought to reach your soul. God loves that difficult family member, that defensive person online, and that government official you find offensive or out of touch. And if in the moment, you cannot show up with love, step aside and get out of His way. Forever, always and more than enough. He responds with perfect love. Our God sees the issues with perfect clarity, and we do not. His viewpoint, perspective, and wisdom are above all our circumstances. Nothing written, spoken, or even implied comes as a surprise to Him. His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. (2 Peter 1:3, NIV) Yes, sometimes it can be hard to trust people. Friends, family, co-workers will disappoint us, let us down, and fall short. You will bump into difficult people who stretch you, test your patience and hurt your feelings. I hope this doesn't come as a surprise to you, but there will be moments that YOU are the difficult person. When we feel threatened by someone's response or judged unfairly, try lingering longer in His love. Be reflective, not reactive. His love is enough. He has chosen you. No one can stand in the way. No words spoken over you or to you can dismantle the heart of His message about you. He loves you. When we can take this in and allow our hearts to be changed by His love, our responses to others then changes, too. This song has honestly been a reminder for me that God is everything we'll ever need. My prayer and hope is that everyone who listens to this is reminded of the Father's heart toward us and that He loves to take care of us. (Naomi Raine of Maverick City) Thank you Jesus for your love that your love is more than I could fathom or imagine — it doesn't change; it does not depend on how we react or feel. Thank you, Jesus, that I'm already loved. That it is forever and always more than enough. Maybe if I stay close to God's way of loving me, I will get a taste of how I can love others better. After all, I do believe that is part of His plan. Tracey Dahl, M.A. is a writer and Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) in Langley, BC (Canada). She is married to Ryan Dahl (Founder of PraiseCharts) and the mother of four grown children. Jireh was written by Chris Brown, Steven Furtick, Chandler Moore, and Naomi Raine. Jireh was recorded by Maverick City and Elevation Worship.

My heart busted right open when I heard that first newborn cry. Our first grandchild is a bright, delightful little person. If she's over at our house, all the family comes, too. Her aunties and uncles cannot get enough of her. When Grandbaby and her parent's come to visit, schedules clear, plans adjust - we all want to sit and take her in. Along with this depth of love pounding in my chest, I notice something else. Slipping in amongst the awe and delight is worry. It is a familiar worry connected to a younger version of myself. I haven't perceived this gnawing at my heart for quite some time - not since my kids were little. When I first became a mom, I couldn't believe they let me take that sweet, vulnerable tiny baby home from the hospital. He came with no instruction manual and an immense responsibility to keep him safe. It is a familiar kind of worry attached to the indescribable adoration I feel for this little girl. But now, my confidence is buoyed by what I know. I am my older, wiser self, and I know how to pray. Grandma use to pray out loud by her bed every nightTo me it sounded like mumbling, like she was out of her mindShe said, Boy this kind of praying is what saved my lifeYou outta try it some time; now I know she was right And I know the good work that God is doing in her parents. A work that is not complete. An ongoing purposeful work of grace, love, and growth. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.Philippians 1:4-6 When your heart is gripped with anxiety about your kids being in this upside-down world, talk to Jesus. He has plans for us, and he has plans for our kids. Elevation Worship & Maverick City Music's song, Talking To Jesus tells the story of how we can get through the messy uncertainty of parenting. Mama use to drag me to church, Sunday morning and Wednesday nightsKhaki pants and a polo shirt, boy, I put up a fightShe said, Son, one day you'll thank me for having God in your lifeAnd yeah I know she was right, yeah my mama was right Get them talking to Jesus. That is the antidote to my worry. Knowing that the ones my heart bursts for know Him. They see this friend who will never let them down. He will never leave them out. He will never leave them alone. He will never take offense, and He will always forgive. He is never too busy or distracted. With Him, there is no favoritism. No competition. No fear. What a friend! Thank God they are talking to Jesus. Tracey Dahl, M.A. is a writer and Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) in Langley, BC (Canada). She is married to Ryan Dahl (Founder of PraiseCharts) and the mother of four grown children. Talking To Jesus was written by Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music and featured on the album Talking To Jesus.

Ever felt like your soul was wandering in the wilderness or stuck in the frigid cold of a long winter season? Those days when your present moment circumstances fill up with anxiety or are littered with distraction. Grabbing your phone first thing in the morning to scroll through Instagram or scan Twitter, you notice the pang for a moment and then push it aside; His whispered invitation "I am here...just waiting for you to see me." Suddenly, you see the time, jump out of bed and begin getting ready for the day. And like yesterday, you fill your day with work, school, food ... and catching up on a few of your favorite episodes on Netflix, then climb restlessly back into bed. Maybe your version of winter seasons or wilderness wanderings looks a little bit different. Perhaps for you, there is less Netflix, but more striving to be honored at your workplace, extra hours spent at the office, or that nagging critical self-talk: "This project is lousy, no one is going to pay attention." Or the wretched voice of comparison: "I am never going to be as good as them...I shouldn't even bother putting in the effort." (Honestly, giving in to "comparison" is one of the quickest ways to stay stuck in a winter season!) Winter seasons and wilderness wanderings leave us depleted, worn-out, and lonely. Alone In the Wilderness Yet all the while, He is with us...waiting. We may not notice, but that doesn't change His truth. Our present moment circumstances hold us tightly to their focus, and we don't even see the disconnection from Jesus right away. We feel undone, unsettled and discontent. Finding yourself alone in a wilderness or winter season is unnerving. One thing to remember, even if we can't predict their length, seasons do change. When we find ourselves stuck in the dreariness of the soul's dark, rainy winter seasons; tired, discontent, and disoriented, take a moment and be intentional to speak about the Father's unchanging character. "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- his good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 12:2 Goodness of God Ask the Holy Spirit to lift your eyes above your circumstances and take in the unchanging nature of the Father; notice that He is good, He is faithful, He is our strength when we feel weak. My circumstances do not change His character. He remains the same, yesterday, today, and all for all our tomorrows. A song like Goodness of God calls out this truth of the Father's unchanging character. He is faithful, His mercy never fails, and He is present with us always. Singing this truth sets our hearts on the things above, becoming a welcomed break from the dreariness of winter wanderings. Noticing His nearness, speaking of God's faithfulness, and worshipping can shift seasons and at the very least give you the much-needed rest and resilience to keep pushing through the drought you are in. Tracey Dahl, M.A. is a writer and Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) in Langley, BC (Canada). She is married to Ryan Dahl (Founder of PraiseCharts) and the mother of four grown children. Goodness Of God was written by Ed Cash, Ben Fielding, Jason Ingram, Brian Johnson, and Jenn Johnson.

Phil Wickham's House of the Lord is a celebration shouting out praise to our God who made a way for us. His presence and provision billow up and overflow from grateful hearts. When you experience His joy, or when you have been rescued and set free, it is hard not to shout out with joy from the mountaintops. Is there joy in your house? A joy that bubbles up, spills over, and leaves your world just right. Maybe you glimpse joy walking along a forest trail, watching your kids play outside, or having that first-morning cup of coffee. Possibly, it is sunsets, sunrises or walking along the beach that does it for you; the moments we feel like our most authentic selves and right there in the middle of this moment, we feel it - deep and steady as a heartbeat - joy. There's joy in the house of the LordThere's joy in the house of the Lord todayAnd we won't be quietWe shout out Your praise But, have you noticed that it doesn't take much to steal your joy? How quickly deep contentment like this can be snatched away? Slipping from your soul the moment you see "that" look from the store clerk and realize you forgot to lift your mask up to cover your nose. You know the look: the judgy eyes, furrowed brows, the look of deep disapproval. Sometimes joy is stolen in moments when family or friends comment or question your decisions, their words laced with sarcasm, passive aggression or explicit judgment. Ever disagreed with a friend and then been ghosted, unfollowed or blocked? And one of the biggest dangers lurks on social media platforms—conversation threads enticing responses and disrupting contentment and joy both for the reader and the ones who post. We don't even have to post a comment to be and feel disturbed by what we read. Joy, peace, and provision. In His house, there will be joy. In His house, we will experience peace. In His house, we will have all that we need. If there is joy in the House of the Lord, we should expect to experience it. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. (Psalm 28:7, NIV) If we have confident assurance that our God is near, that He heals, and that He saves, why isn't joy plastered like wallpaper all over our social media platforms, filling our feeds? Because our lives are messy, complicated and we are easily prone to distraction and disappointment. The most common presenting issue in my counseling office is anxiety. Anxiety (fear) and joy rarely co-exist. The emotional marathon of 2020 left some of us depleted with a lingering sense of dread for the next hard thing. Maybe we are having trouble concentrating or feeling stuck and unsure how to get moving again. Some are not excited to re-engage socially when given the freedom to do so. Others report feeling aimless, like wandering through the day looking through a foggy window. With so many unknowns in the days ahead, hope for change is waning. There is a word to describe this -- it is called languishing. Someone described it to me like this: "It's been like hitting a dead end at every turn in a cornfield maze. In the beginning, it was a game, and we were set on winning and persevering. There was all this adrenaline to make it through and to overcome the obstacles. One dead-end isn't discouraging because you've only been in the maze for a short while, and you have a lot of energy to keep pressing through. But now, hitting one detour after another ... having to pivot and change directions has become tiresome. I want to stop playing and have someone rescue me. If I could shoot up some flares and have someone lift me to safety, I'd do that." The thought of experiencing life as a maze is so dark and heavy compared to the contagious joyful expression of praise in the "House of the Lord." What do we have to shift in order to have more sustainable joy? At any given moment, you can respond in one of two ways: Either your authentic best self may show up, or your more compromised version of yourself may appear. Think of being overtired, hungry, distracted, or frustrated, and suddenly someone cuts you off in traffic or drops the entire carton of milk all over your paperwork sitting on the kitchen island. Sidestepping all grace, words and gestures fly from your body quickly without much thought. You react rather than reflect, and your compromised self shows up strong and powerful. Though the fig tree does not budand there are no grapes on the vines,though the olive crop failsand the fields produce no food,though there are no sheep in the penand no cattle in the stalls,yet I will rejoice in the Lord,I will be joyful in God my Savior.(Habakkuk 3:17-19) Or maybe this is more you. Scrolling through Instagram or Facebook, you land upon a post from a "friend." It is outlandish, offensive and flies in complete contradiction to all your values. In fact, you can't imagine how you didn't know this "friend" felt this way. Thoughts rush in: "what an ignorant comment to make," and "how can they call themselves Christian?" or "how can they believe that garbage is true?" Think about the last time you read something online that annoyed you, rattled you with such intensity that you reacted and responded rashly, or maybe you just muddled it over and over for days after. And, we keep going back to check that post to see what new absurd comments are being made, further disturbing our thoughts and disrupting our sense of calm. Criticism, judgment, seeing myself as the expert, name-calling, and hiding behind anonymity. These joy-robbers, peace-stealers, and grace-dismantling thoughts lead us directly into disappointment, anxiety and impulsiveness. We react rather than reflect. Our behavior becomes quick and prickly. Our compromised selves have sharp edges and tend not to respond well to correction from others. Not surprisingly, you may find yourself irritable, distracted, and sensitive to criticism and judgment in this state. So what can we do when we find ourselves in a prickly, reactive, critical way? Take a social media break and tend to the garden of your heart. Resist the pull to respond. "Whatever momentary self-satisfaction we experience when we entertain it leaves behind darkness and a hardness of heart — like cement that begins to cure while we're standing in it up to our knees." (The Chosen Book Two: 40 Days with Jesus. Day 8 Love) Lift your eyes above your circumstances and reconnect with the Prince of Peace. Sing praise and worship, allowing His truth to wash over you. He heals, He saves, and He is still rolling away stones. He makes a way through every dark valley or risky mountain climb. He will give you what you need to face the tricky places you find yourself in. But His direction, leading, and heart will not be easy to hear or find if you have not attuned to Him. We grow close to those we spend the most time with, and intimacy is cultivated intentionally, mindfully and with consistency over time. We sing to the God who healsWe sing to the God who savesWe sing to the God who always makes a way Come back to the revelation that we are the house of the Lord. We are the body. We are not a building. We are a people. How we engage with the world reflects how deeply His presence has touched us. Tracey Dahl, M.A. is a writer and Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) in Langley, BC (Canada). She is married to Ryan Dahl (Founder of PraiseCharts) and the mother of four grown children. House Of The Lord was written by Phil Wickham and Jonathan Smith.

Passage: John 4:1-42 This song came out of nowhere. Most songs take hours/days/months for me to finish. This one seemed to drop from the heart of heaven. I'm singing to God in this song, but every time I sing it, it's like He's singing it over me. What a faithful friend He is. It's so important for us to remember what He has brought us through and to let it propel us to trust him. There is a powerful story in John 4 where it says that Jesus “had to go through Samaria.” What's interesting about this phrase is that it doesn't make geographical sense. Samaria is actually out of the way. It also doesn't make sense socially, since Jews didn't associate with Samaritans. Yet Jesus would not be deterred from going to this town. It was there that He met a woman coming out to draw water in the middle of the day. When Jesus encountered her, the conversation moved from Jesus needing a drink of water to Jesus pointing to Himself as what she was truly thirsting for. “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:13-14). The story continues, telling us that this woman had been in multiple relationships, which may be why she was drawing water in the heat of the day. In that culture, only men had the legal right to divorce, which means we can only imagine the pain, objectification, and abuse she could have gone through. But then she met Jesus. Not only did she change, but the whole town changed. I love this story because it shows how Jesus cares about “the one.” The outcast. The unworthy. He cares about us, and He is a King who takes detours to meet us right where we are at—and to show us He is what we have been thirsting for all along. The reality is, no matter how sincerely we could ever sing, “It's always been You,” He will always be the one singing it louder back over us. Based on the song It's Always Been You by Phil Wickham. Original post by Phil Wickham available on YouVersion based on the album - Hymn Of Heaven.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.""—Proverbs 9:10 (NIV) Reflection: In a world where fear often leads us to anxiety and despair, the concept of the “fear of God” might seem paradoxical. Yet, Brooke Ligertwood's song “Fear Of God” reminds us that this fear is not one of terror, but of deep reverence and awe—a fear that anchors us in the face of the enemy's schemes. The opening verse sets the scene by acknowledging a reality that every believer must face: “Satan roams around like a roaring lion, seeking to devour us.” This is a vivid reminder of the spiritual battle we are engaged in daily. Satan's tactics are real, and he is relentless. But the lyrics immediately counter this with a powerful truth: “But the fear of God will keep us.” It is the fear of God—our reverence, awe, and recognition of His ultimate authority—that becomes our shield and fortress against the enemy's attacks. This fear of God is not about shrinking back in dread but standing firm in the knowledge of who God is. The song encourages us to “hold to what lasts and keep your lamp lit,” echoing the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25. Keeping our lamps lit means living in readiness, staying rooted in God's Word, and being prepared for Christ's return. It is in this posture of reverence and preparedness that we find true security. The chorus brings us to the hope of transformation: “In the blink of an eye and a trumpet sound, we will be changed by a supernatural power.” The fear of God not only keeps us in this life but prepares us for the life to come. The moment of Christ's return will be sudden and glorious, a moment when all will be changed, and the mortal will put on immortality. This is the hope that sustains us and the reality that we must live in light of every day. As we move into the bridge, the song acknowledges that while we may not win every battle, the war is already won by Christ. This is a profound truth that the fear of God helps us to grasp. It gives us perspective, reminding us that the struggles of this life are temporary, but the victory in Christ is eternal. “Christ is coming, and there's only so long He'll wait.” This is both a promise and a call to action. The song ends with a powerful image: “He's comin' for a pure and spotless bloodwashed bride.” The fear of God purifies us, aligning our lives with His will, and preparing us as His bride. It's a call to live in holiness, to lift our voices, and to do the work we are called to while we are still here. As you reflect on the lyrics of “Fear Of God,” consider what it means to live in the fear of the Lord. How does this reverence shape your daily decisions, your responses to the enemy's schemes, and your preparation for Christ's return? The fear of God is not just about avoiding sin; it's about embracing the fullness of life that comes from living in awe of our holy and sovereign God. Prayer: Lord, I ask that You deepen my understanding of what it means to fear You. May this fear be the foundation of wisdom in my life, guiding my steps and keeping me close to You. Help me to live in readiness, with my lamp lit and my heart prepared for Your return. I thank You for the victory that is already won through Christ, and I pray that my life would reflect the purity and holiness You desire in Your bride. In Jesus' name, Amen. Action Step: This week, take time to meditate on the fear of God in your own life. Reflect on how it influences your thoughts, actions, and spiritual disciplines. Consider any areas where you may need to realign your life with this holy reverence, and make a commitment to live in the light of His soon return.

Hymns withstand the test of time for good reason. “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” was written in 1758, but congregations around the world still sing it today. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love—lyrics that will always resonate with the heart of the believer and the age-old battle between our sinful selves and who we are in Christ: “For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.” (Rom. 7:18-19) As the hymn says, Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God. Jesus came to us while we were still sinners (Rom. 5:8), not after we had cleaned ourselves up and gotten our acts together. He came right into the middle of our wandering, and that wasn't a one-time event. We are daily prone to wander, but scripture tells us his mercies are new every morning. (Lam. 3:22-23) His kindness continues to pursue us, in spite of us. How your kindness yet pursues meHow your mercy never fails me Because of this, we can tune our hearts to grace, rather than to fear or shame. In Christ, the song from our hearts sings of the kindness God has done for us, by no power of our own and by no performance or act that is worthy. We can rest in a Father who has taken our hearts and sealed them. We are his and no matter how far we wander, his kindness pursues us still. Here's my heart, Lord, take and seal itSeal it for Thy courts above Based on the song Come Thou Fount (I Will Sing) by Chris Tomlin. Original post available on YouVersion based on the album Never Lose Sight.

Call To Worship / PrayerFather, as we gather today, we come before You with hearts filled with gratitude and a deep sense of wonder. In this moment, we want to acknowledge Your greatness and the kindness You have shown us. Together, we find ourselves in Your presence, aware of the love You have poured out upon us. Our worship is a sincere expression of thankfulness, rising to You like a heartfelt melody. We enter this sacred time with open hearts, ready to lift Your name high and offer our thanks for the many blessings we've received. As our voices join in song and our praises resound, may we be reminded of the wonder of Your love and grace.Devotional: A Heart Overflowing with GratitudeIn the midst of our busy lives, it's often the quiet moments of gratitude that resonate the most deeply. Today, as we reflect on the importance of gratitude in our journey of faith, let's explore the significance of a thankful heart while drawing inspiration from the timeless message of Jesus Christ. The psalmist's words in Psalm 107:1 remind us to "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." This verse encapsulates the essence of gratitude—a genuine recognition of Jesus' goodness and His enduring love. In our worship today, let's pause to appreciate the incredible blessings bestowed upon us. The beauty of creation, the love of family and friends, and the countless daily mercies are all expressions of Jesus' goodness. Our hearts are filled with gratitude for the love that surrounds us. As we lift our voices in praise, we acknowledge the greatness of our Savior, Jesus Christ. The majesty of the heavens, the intricacy of the natural world, and the depth of His wisdom inspire awe and reverence. In gratitude, we magnify His greatness. In the quiet moments of reflection, we recognize Jesus' faithfulness. His love endures through every season of life, through trials and triumphs. We are thankful for His unwavering presence and the countless ways He has sustained us. Today, let your heart overflow with gratitude, a heartfelt response to Jesus' goodness, greatness, and faithfulness. In this simple act, we draw closer to our Savior, who is the source of all that we cherish. As we express our thanks, may we be reminded of His enduring love and the blessings that surround us daily. Psalm 107:1 (NIV) - "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever."

Before following Jesus, we were all building our lives on something. Whether it was a relationship, an achievement, a dream, a failure, or our own plan, our foundation was our own making. We can only build our lives with our own hands for so long until realizing that our foundations aren't strong enough. They are cracked. Or completely shattered. What God wants to build in each of our lives is an eternal, purpose-filled life, a life that we cannot muster or earn or build on our own strength. It takes a strong and sure foundation. When we put our faith in Jesus, we exchanged our faulty, self-made, crumbling foundation, broken by the weight of sin and darkness, for a sure footing on the brand new foundation of God, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. As we surrender daily to Jesus, we begin to see him building what only He can build in us: eyes that see him, hearts filled with the things He loves, and lives which seek to serve those around us. His is a love which cannot be moved, and in Jesus we are given a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Jesus holds it all together and the Holy Spirit fills us with wisdom and revelation, revealing who God is to us. Revelation always moves us to act. If we have truly seen God for who He is, our desires will shift and eventually become His desires. As He changes our lives, we will long for others to “know and rely on the love God has” for both us and those around us. Father, show me who you are today. Fill me with your heart—all the things you love and want me to love—and empty me of the things which don't build up your kingdom. Then lead me in your love to, in turn, love those around me with the love of Christ. In Jesus' name, Amen. Based on the song Build My Life by Brett Younker, Karl Martin, Kirby Kaple, Matt Redman. Original post by Passion Music available on YouVersion based on the live album - Passion: Worthy Of Your Name, featuring worship songs from Passion Band, Chris Tomlin, Crowder, Matt Redman, Jimi Cravity & more!

The joy that comes with daily sacrifice only makes sense in light of the cross. It will be my joy to say, “Your will, your way.” The world sees the Christian life of sacrifice and says, “Stop giving up all of your rights and privileges. You must be miserable!” But Christians have experienced the paradoxical joy in giving up your life to someone else, in dying to self and living for Christ. As Paul said in Philippians 1:21, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Of course it's not easy at first, the dying-to-self thing. Paul also said, “For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate” (Rom. 7:14-15). We are sinful beings who even when we know the freedom of Christ still long to satisfy the desires of our flesh. This is why we must daily lay down our lives. Letting go of my pride, giving up all my rights. Take this life and let it shine. How do we do this, practically speaking? By inviting Jesus into our day-to-day. There is a moment in each Christian's life when we make a decision to believe Jesus was the son of God. That is huge. That is our salvation. But in order to know God, we must make a conscious effort to choose Christ every day like we did in that one salvation moment. As we accept this discipline, we see that the sacrifice gets a bit easier with time, and the joy of the sacrifice begins to outweigh the shame of sin. We choose to submit to the leadership placed in our lives, rather than fight it. We choose to call our sibling or parent back even though they're difficult to talk to. We choose to end the relationship that is pleasing to the flesh but devastating to the spirit. Eventually the thought of not owning ourselves, but actually belonging to someone else will be the only thing that makes sense. Left to our own devices, we have made some poor decisions that placed us in bondage to something or someone. But left to Christ's guidance, we feel the freedom of our lives and are joyful that life is no longer up to us. We are relieved to no longer be living for ourselves and instead to be a part of a much larger story. Based on the song Lay Me Down by Chris Tomlin. Original post available on YouVersion based on the album Burning Lights.