Resurrender

There’s a song the 16 church worship teams will sing at this Saturday’s workshop in Lancaster. Though it’s not widely known—currently at number 473 on Planning Center Online’s Top Songs chart—it carries a message our community especially needs.

I’m not sure if it didn’t resonate broadly because it includes a word that feels made-up. Or that it doesn’t say “I” or “me,” only “we” and “You.” Or that the theme admits our guilt and need for God’s radical work in our lives and our appropriate response.

The song? Resurrender.

The song was written in 2021, a time when the world was trying to recover and return to life. Many of us prayed radical prayers of desperation. So it’s fitting that it starts with a recounting of Jesus’ Gen X-like actions in the place of worship:

Verse one starts:
You're turning over tables and calling for return
To our lives upon the altar the things we did at first
You're clearing out the temple, You're cleaning out the dirt
For we are Your territory, Lord, we are Your Church

Verse two continues:
You see a holy nation, A flock to consecrate
A chosen generation, A people called to pray
So help us God, to please You, where only You can see
For every moment matters in eternity

This chorus will get in you like so many good Hillsong choruses do:
We are Your people, You are our God
We are Your temple, Make us holy like You are
We are Your children, You've set us apart
God for Your glory,
Make us holy like You are

The bridge steps in with a “hold my beer” moment:
Mark Your people with Your presence
Make us a place where You delight to dwell
May we heed Your hand's correction
Oh Lord, our Shepherd, You do all things well
Your love, as firm as it is tender
Your law is perfect and Your judgments true
As we run to resurrender
You will restore what we return to You
You are restoring as we yield anew

And then beautifully, the last bridge announces our response to all this:
If You're calling, we're coming
We're not walking, we're running
God, we need resurrender,
We resurrender

Why do I share this song with you that you’ll probably never lead at your church?

The heart in this is so needed for us right now. When Coach Jimmy shared Saturday’s set list with me, I looked up this song to see what it was. I began to imagine a room full of worship teams confessing, declaring, and responding in humility to the generous invitation to God’s kindness. I pray that the Lord not only meets those gathered this weekend, but also meets you in your worship times at home. I know we’re using it for our family worship times here.

The chord chart is available here.

-Dave Helmuth
(Purchase my book, "Five Faders" HERE)

Resurrender (Nº 451)