There are some incredible stories behind so many of our old hymns, and there are also amazing stories behind many of our Christian music songs today, with songwriters taking time to be vulnerable and honest, sharing moments in their walk with God. It’s too easy to place people who are in the “limelight” on pedestals, forgetting that they get up every day and face life challenges too. When they share their stories and victories over struggles, it is encouraging and can help give you the confidence that you can be an overcomer too, and that spiritual growth is a never-ending journey that must be approached intentionally. I am going to take a few Saturdays to share some of my favorites. Let me know your thoughts.
One of my favorite Artists and songwriters is Matthew West. Not only are his songs packed with inspiration and meaning, but He is also real. The only “air” about him when chatting with him is one of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control”! This particular song was one of Abby’s favorites when she was younger, and every time we got in the car, she wanted to hear it, so we both know the song quite well. 😂 One day at church as we were headed to her Sunday school class, he was walking down the hall as well, so I mentioned her love for his song and he chatted with her all the way to her class, he made her feel as if she was the only person on earth, even at eight years old that mattered in that moment.
He wrote this song after reaching a point where he was tired of feeling as though his faith was stale and he was just going through the motions. He grew up in church as a preacher’s kid, which can make it real simple to walk the walk and talk the talk without putting effort into that walk, but he knew that God knew, and he didn’t want to settle. In Matthew’s words, “God knows if I’m really pursuing a passionate relationship with Him or if I’m just going through the motions. We’ll never realize God’s amazing plan for our lives if we live a lukewarm life. Life’s too short to go through the motions.”
The song went deep for him when he had surgery on his vocal cords, not knowing whether he would sing again, followed by two months of prescribed silence ~ no talking until it was healed.
Here are some of the lyrics to “The Motions” with links at the end for the full song and his official music video:
This might hurt, it’s not safe
But I know that I’ve gotta make a change
I don’t care if I break
At least I’ll be feeling something
‘Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life
I don’t wanna go through the motions
I don’t wanna go one more day
Without Your all-consuming passion inside of me
I don’t wanna spend my whole life asking
What if I had given everything
Instead of going through the motions?
Matthew West The Motions lyrics. Full song
When we allow God to speak into our lives and use all that we face to help us grow in our walk with Him, then we can become and experience all He created us to be!
Jeremiah 29:11-13, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, plans for good and not for evil. Plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
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