New song: Breakthrough (theme for 2013 SWCC)

We here in LA are excited to be hosting a conference for churches around the Southwest in a few weeks entitled “Breakthrough.”  I was asked to write a song for the conference, and had a bit of trouble at first.  I normally write worship songs about God, but of course God doesn’t need a breakthrough – it’s WE who need a breakthrough at this point in our history as a church and in our individual spiritual lives.  So I decided to make it a prayer for God to move in a powerful way as he has in the past.  There are some great psalms or passages of scripture that document great things that God has done in the past, often with a call that God would act in the present day.  Like this one:

LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.
 – Habakkuk 3:2

It was a dark day in the history of God’s people when Habakkuk wrote his book.  It seemed like God was distant.  Babylon had conquered.  The people were carried off into exile.  At the start of the book Habakkuk is really struggling, but by this final chapter his eyes are open and he learns to rejoice in God even when times look bleak, understanding their is a much bigger battle going on and God has a plan.

Not that it’s a bleak time in the church right now, but I wanted to take this outlook as a model in writing this song – a prayer recounting the things God has done in the past and calling on him to give us a breakthrough here and now in the obstacles we face.  The verses are arranged in “levels” –  the first verse contains the “big picture” – creation, man made in God’s image, the great plan of redemption.  The second verse has snapshots of God working to purify his own people, calling them out of Egypt and ultimately bringing the Messiah. The last verse and chorus are about the here and now – that God would be with us and use us for his purpose (little artistic thing, but there a few “nods” in the last verse to some of the songs we sing in our family of churches).

Here is a quick video Pete and I made at the end of our rehearsal last night working on the song.  If you’re coming to the conference I hope you could start learning it so we can sing it powerfully together when we all get there!

BREAKTHROUGH

You hung the sun and moon, a universe in tune
Caused the dry earth to bloom, brought it to life
Gave men your spirit’s spark, turned them to light from dark
By your blood set apart, made us to shine

Give us a breakthrough
There’s so much more to do
Your kingdom come through us
Your will be done in us
Give us your heart
Give us a breakthrough
It’s gotta come from you
You are unstoppable
Everything’s possible
Almighty God
Give us a breakthrough

You set the captives free. You split apart the sea
Told us to watch and see all you would do
Brought water from a stone, gave those exiled a home
Your Holy One enthroned the King of all kings…

Fill every heart with love. Teach us to overcome
Lead us with power from your Spirit’s fire
We sing your praises loud, sing to the stumbling crowd
Till all the whole world ’round knows who you are…

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