“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or in dread of them [your enemies], for the LORD your God is the One who is going with you. He will not desert you or abandon you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:35-39

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! – 2 Corinthians 9:15

Thanks to a good friend whose husband had to work, I had the joy of attending the Brandon Lake “Coat of Many Colors” tour. The whole night was a worshipful, joy-infused, God-glorifying experience, shared with hundreds of other folks. I am a new follower of Brandon Lake’s music and thank God for him, the lyrics he writes, and his sheer delight performing on stage. No…performing isn’t the word. More leading worship. He told us that night, “You’ve come to church!” It was a beautiful and awe-inspiring time.

He brought along fellow singer/songwriter Leeland who brought the song Waymaker to the world’s attention. Sinach, a Nigerian singer/worship leader had written the song, and Leeland recognized the important message this song. So fun to sing this song with him that night (only thing that would have been better would have been Sinach being there herself).

The other singer Brandon brought to us was the northern Irish singer/songwriter Benjamin William Hastings. Now, this points to Brandon’s lack of ego in sharing the stage with so much talent. He wanted us all to be able to worship the Lord without personalities getting in the way.

I didn’t know Benjamin W. Hastings, thinking Brandon was giving him an introduction to an American audience. I was so wrong. [Have a listen to this playlist.] He was one of the songwriters on “So Will I”.

All that to say, it was an incredible night of worship – full of beauty, joy, amazement, humility, and God at the absolute center.

Now back to “abandoned”. We think of it in the negative, right? So thankful God will never abandon His children. Hastings uses this word in a different way:

abandoned /ə-băn′dənd/

adjective

1. Deserted; forsaken.
2. Exuberantly enthusiastic.
3. Recklessly unrestrained.

“Abandoned” was actually written by Brandon Lake. He and Hastings swapped a couple of songs, both of which will be released in 2024. You will hear Brandon’s heart in this song, but you will also hear Benjamin’s. You can imagine what it was like to be there that night…a brand-new song, one with which we had no emotional attachment (yet). A song we immediately bonded to because of Jesus.

The message of this song is my heart-cry. So grateful for the indescribable gift of Christ. The unspeakably precious gift we have from God – Jesus Christ. Hallelujah!

Worship with me [a clip from one of the Coat of Many Colors concerts – song isn’t released until 2024]:

Look, something isn’t adding up
This wild exchange you offer us

I gave my worst, you gave Your blood
Seems hard to believe
So You’re telling me you chose the cross
You’re telling me I’m worth that much
And if that’s the measure of Your love
How else would I see

[Chorus]
But completely, deeply, sold-out, sincerely abandoned
I’m completely, freely, hands-to-the-ceiling enamored
My one-life endeavor
To match Your surrender
To mirror not my will but Yours
I’m completely, deeply, don’t-carе-who-sees-me abandoned

[Interlude]
I surrendеr all

[Verse 2]
Oh, only You’d have thought it up
This wild arithmetic of love
‘Cause none but You would count the cost
And find us worth the pain
One final breath upon the cross
Until the one that woke You up
So now I’ll breathe with every breath I’ve got
‘Cause like the air in the grave

[Chorus]
I’m completely, deeply, sold-out, sincerely abandoned
I’m completely, freely, hands-to-the-ceiling enamored
My one-life endeavor to match Your surrender
To mirror not my will but Yours
I’m completely, deeply, I-don’t-care-who-sees-me abandoned

[Interlude]
Oh, I surrender all
I surrender all
Oh, I surrender all
Oh

[Bridge]
All of my heart
The best of my soul
This phase of my life
This breath in my lungs
Consider it Yours, Lord
Consider it Yours, Lord

The failures I hide
The victories I don’t
The battles I fight
Each crown that I hoard
Consider it Yours, Lord
Consider it Yours, Lord

The plans that I’ve made
These dreams of my own
Take the best of my will
But if one will be done
Consider it Yours, Lord
Consider it Yours, Lord

The glory forever
The grave that You won
The praise of the heavens
The kingdom to come
Consider it Yours, Lord
Consider it Yours

[Chorus]
‘Cause I’m completely, deeply, sold-out, sincerely abandoned
I’m completely, freely, hands-to-the ceiling enamored
My one-life endeavor to match Your surrender
To mirror not my will but Yours
I’m completely, deeply, I-don’t-care-who-sees-me abandoned

[Interlude]
Oh, I surrender all

[Chorus]
My one-life endeavor
To match your surrender
To mirror not my will but Yours
I’m completely, deeply, sold-out, sincerely abandoned

[Outro]
Oh, I surrender all*

*Lyrics to Abandoned – Songwriter: Brandon Lake

Tear Off the Roof Tour 2024 – Brandon Lake with special guest Doe

Faith Behind The Song: “That’s The Thing About Praise” – Benjamin William Hastings feat. Blessing Offor – Scott Savage