God Who Stays - Matthew West

If I were You I would've given up on me by now
I would've labeled me a lost cause
Cause I feel just like a lost cause

I would have given up on me by now. What a lost cause. My emotions scream these things at me in the dark places, in the deep corners of my brain these words rattle around, daring me to think differently. Daring me to challenge them for the lies that they are. You are beyond repair.

But somehow You don't see me like I do
Somehow You're still here

God says "I'm here, I'm not going anywhere, and those other things you hear are lies." Sometimes I can hear it in my heart, in the quiet, while I sit with Him. But other times, I hear it because people God has placed in my life speak these words of truth. The other times when the lies scream at me from the silence.

You're the one who runs in my direction
When the whole world walks away
You're the God who stands
With wide open arms
And You tell me nothing I have ever done can separate my heart
From the God who stays

Friends, He stays. When no-one else would. When you would leave yourself. God says "no, I'm here, I chose you, and I'm not going to change that. Nothing you do, nothing you have ever done, nothing you will do can separate you from me"

May you find yourself able to hear the quiet whisper: "I love you. And I'm not going anywhere."



If I were You I would've given up on me by now
I would've labeled me a lost cause
Cause I feel just like a lost cause

If I were You I would've turned around and walked away
I would've labeled me beyond repair
Cause I feel like I'm beyond repair

But somehow You don't see me like I do
Somehow You're still here

You're the God who stays
You're the God who stays
You're the one who runs in my direction
When the whole world walks away
You're the God who stands
With wide open arms
And You tell me nothing I have ever done can separate my heart
From the God who stays

I used to hide
Every time I thought I let You down
I always thought I had to earn my way
But I'm learning You don't work that way

Somehow You don't see me like I do
Somehow You're still here

You're the God who stays
You're the God who stays
You're the one who runs in my direction
When the whole world walks away
You're the God who stands
With wide open arms
And You tell me nothing I have ever done can separate my heart
From the God who stays

My shame can't separate
My guilt can't separate
My past can't separate
I'm Yours forever

My sin can't separate
My scars can't separate
My failures can't separate
I'm Yours forever

No enemy can separate
No power of hell can take away
Your love for me will never change
I'm Yours forever

You're the God who stays
You're the God who stays
You're the one who runs in my direction
When the whole world walks away
You're the God who stands
With wide open arms
And You tell me nothing I have ever done can separate my heart
From the God who stays
You're the God who stays
You're the one who runs in my direction
When the whole world walks away
You're the God who stands
With wide open arms
And You tell me nothing I have ever done can separate my heart
From the God who stays

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Matthew West
The God Who Stays lyrics © Highly Combustible Music, House Of Story Music Publishing, Two Story House Music, Be Essential Songs, One77 Songs

My Weapon - Natalie Grant

My worship opens up the heavens
Crushing every stronghold
When I speak Your name
Your presence is my weapon
Your presence is my weapon

In my darkest times, music is where I go to find comfort. It's probably why this blog got started - the truth I find in worship, in music. In the act of worship I find myself drawing into God's presence. And in God's presence we find our weapon.

Your strength will not be shaken
Your love will not back down
Death has been defeated
What can stop us now

Think about that. Death has been defeated. What power there is in Jesus!

Your word and a melody
Are making a way for me
You defeat the enemy
This prison is shaking now
And these walls are coming down
Your presence makes me free
I am free

May you find freedom in the presence of Jesus. May you find the music, words and melody that allow you to draw into the presence of our almighty - he has broken down the prison walls. Find freedom in Him!


Let every lie be silenced
And all depression cease
Let every dark assignment
Bow down at Jesus’ feet

Let every curse be broken
Let every storm be tamed
And all that come against us
Be bound in Jesus’ name

Your presence is my greatest weapon
Pushing back the darkness
Breaking every chain

My worship opens up the heavens
Crushing every stronghold
When I speak Your name
Your presence is my weapon
Your presence is my weapon

Your strength will not be shaken
Your love will not back down
Death has been defeated
What can stop us now

I hold on to what You’ve spoken
You said that I am free
You’ve given me Your promise
You are my victory

Your presence is my greatest weapon
Pushing back the darkness
Breaking every chain

My worship opens up the heavens
Crushing every stronghold
When I speak Your name
Your presence is my weapon
Your presence is my weapon

Your word and a melody
Are making a way for me
You defeat the enemy
This prison is shaking now
And these walls are coming down
Your presence makes me free
I am free

Your presence is my greatest weapon
Pushing back the darkness
Breaking every chain

My worship opens up the heavens
Crushing every stronghold
When I speak Your name
Your presence is my weapon
Your presence is my weapon

Your presence is
You are my weapon

Steady - Rachael Nemiroff

You know those weeks. Those weeks where you're not sure which way is up? Which emotion to trust? Which feeling is real and which feeling is just something that is floating around you and you happened to catch it? The days and nights that stretch on and you feel like you are all over the place emotionally? The fears that catch up to you, make you feel like you can't do anything, that cripple you to the core?

In the middle of the night
when my fears have come alive
I'm not giving up the fight
never giving up the fight
I don't have to hide
because you are the morning light
you were always by my side
always always by my side

Do you feel like your fears have come alive? Are you living in the middle of the night? Is everything upside down? Are you living for the morning light, wondering when it will catch you?

You are ever steady,
You are ever steady,
You are ever steady,
You are ever steady.

We serve a God who is ever steady.

The war is won, but it rages on
sometimes my heart can feel so heavy
but there's a peace inside of me
through it all You keep me steady

I am struck by the first line of this verse: "The war IS won, but it rages on..." How often do I feel like I am still fighting a war that is already won? My heart feels so heavy, and yet... that battle is over already. If I sit, and find peace. Sit and let God love me. I realize that the peace inside of me is Him, and that he can keep me steady.

Find a place, sit and be loved by God. He is ever steady, and He has already won the war.

You silence my every fear, bring me rest, meet me here

Jesus, may it be true today. Meet me here.



Lord you know me better than
better than I know myself
You define all of me
While it all looks some way else

Oh, Give me faith and strength to see
Oh, You will not abandon me

In the middle of the night
when my fears have come alive
I'm not giving up the fight
never giving up the fight
I don't have to hide
because you are the morning light
you were always by my side
always always by my side

You are ever steady,
You are ever steady,
You are ever steady,
You are ever steady.

The war is won, but it rages on
sometimes my heart can feel so heavy
but there's a peace inside of me
through it all You keep me steady

oh, guide me in my wandering
oh, help my weary heart to see

In the middle of the night
when my fears have come alive
I'm not giving up the fight
never giving up the fight
I don't have to hide
because you are the morning light
you were always by my side
always always by my side

You are ever steady,
You are ever steady,
You are ever steady,
You are ever steady.

You all and calm and so bring me peace make me whole
I'm a praise you, your name
You silence my every fear, bring me rest, meet me here
I'm a praise you, your name, oh
Your name

In the middle of the night
when my fears have come alive
I'm not giving up the fight
never giving up the fight
I don't have to hide
because you are the morning light
you were always by my side
always always by my side

You are ever steady,
You are ever steady,
You are ever steady,
You are ever steady.

You're Gonna Be OK - Brian & Jenn Johnson

Last weekend I got the privilege of taking my youth group students to a weekend camp at Miracle Ranch. For those who don't know my story, I grew up going to Miracle Ranch as a kid - every summer from the time I was 10 until I was 22; I went as a camper, and then as a staff member. The Ranch became a place where I found peace, where I knew I was loved, where I watched people interact in healthy ways... where I learned to resolve difficult situations through conversation not through avoidance. I was consistently challenged to grow.

Through all of that I was reminded that I was going to be OK. I was able to take correction from these people because I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that they cared for and about me, and my growth as a person. God used relationships formed there to shape who I am - to mold me to be more like Jesus.

This weekend a staff member shared her story. And I was struck by how similar her story was to mine. Non-Christian family, she gets sent to horse camp and finds Jesus. Finds people who show her how to love well. Who are willing to stick with her, even seek her out, when things are tough. She feels wanted, accepted, and challenged. She's told she's going to be OK.

I know it's all you've got to just be strong
And it's a fight just to keep it together
I know you think that you are too far gone
But hope is never lost
Hope is never lost

I've had so many days that have felt like a fight to keep it together. I've spent many hours thinking about being too far gone. I have fallen into the pit of depression, feeling like there is no hope, no way to get out. I thank God for the people in my life who have reminded me that I am not too far gone. Reminded me that with Him hope is not lost.

This weekend we talked about what we need, what God wants, and what the world needs. The speaker used an amusing story about visiting someone who was on oxygen and accidentally standing on their oxygen tube. He used that to ask us if we were standing on someone's oxygen tube in life. Are you giving the world around you oxygen (Jesus) or are you standing on their life giving tube?

Just take one step closer
Put one foot in front of the other
You'll get through this
Just follow the light in the darkness
You're gonna be ok

God can speak through people around us. Are you reminding people that they just need to take one step closer? Are you helping them find the light in the darkness? Are you telling them they're going to be ok?

And when the night is closing in
Don't give up and don't give in
This won't last, it's not the end
It's not the end
You're gonna be ok

Speak truth. Let people know that they matter. Remind them to not give up, that it won't last, that it's not the end.

You, you matter. You're going to be ok. It's not the end. You are loved, you are lovable. Follow the light in the darkness. You're gonna be okay.


I know it's all you've got to just be strong
And it's a fight just to keep it together
I know you think that you are too far gone
But hope is never lost
Hope is never lost

Hold on, don't let go
Hold on, don't let go

Just take one step closer
Put one foot in front of the other
You'll get through this
Just follow the light in the darkness
You're gonna be ok

I know your heart is heavy from those nights
But just remember that you are a fighter
You never know just what tomorrow holds
And you're stronger than you know
You're stronger than you know

Hold on, don't let go
Hold on, don't let go

Just take one step closer
Put one foot in front of the other
You'll get through this
Just follow the light in the darkness
You're gonna be ok

Just take one step closer
Put one foot in front of the other
You'll get through this
Just follow the light in the darkness
You're gonna be ok

And when the night is closing in
Don't give up and don't give in
This won't last, it's not the end
It's not the end
You're gonna be ok

When the night is closing in
Don't give up and don't give in
This won't last, it's not the end
It's not the end
You're gonna be ok

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Seth David Mosley / Jeremy Riddle / Jenn Johnson
You're Gonna Be OK lyrics © Centricsongs, These Tunes Go To 11