{"id":32456,"date":"2023-12-07T09:32:24","date_gmt":"2023-12-07T14:32:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=32456"},"modified":"2024-01-02T09:05:58","modified_gmt":"2024-01-02T14:05:58","slug":"worship-wednesday-abandoned-in-the-best-possible-way-benjamin-william-hastings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=32456","title":{"rendered":"Worship Wednesday – Abandoned (in the Best Possible Way) – Benjamin William Hastings"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/a>
(L to R) – Leeland<\/a>, Brandon Lake<\/a>, Benjamin W. Hastings<\/a> – Coat of Many Colors Tour<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

“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.\u201d<\/em> – Deuteronomy 31:6<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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, \u201cFor your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.\u201d 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.<\/em> – Romans 8:35-39<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! <\/em><\/strong>– 2 Corinthians 9:15<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to a good friend whose husband had to work, I had the joy of attending the Brandon Lake “Coat of Many Colors” tour<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He brought along fellow singer\/songwriter Leeland <\/a>who brought the song Waymaker<\/a><\/em> to the world’s attention. <\/a>Sinach<\/a>, a Nigerian singer\/worship leader had written the song,<\/a> 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).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other singer Brandon brought to us was the northern Irish singer\/songwriter Benjamin William Hastings<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>.] He was one of the songwriters on “So Will I”<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

abandoned \/\u0259-b\u0103n\u2032d\u0259nd\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

adjective<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  1. Deserted; forsaken.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Exuberantly enthusiastic.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Recklessly unrestrained.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    “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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Look, something isn\u2019t adding up
    This wild exchange you offer us<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n


    I gave my worst, you gave Your blood
    Seems hard to believe
    So You\u2019re telling me you chose the cross
    You\u2019re telling me I\u2019m worth that much
    And if that\u2019s the measure of Your love
    How else would I see<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    [Chorus]
    But completely, deeply, sold-out, sincerely abandoned
    I\u2019m completely, freely, hands-to-the-ceiling enamored
    My one-life endeavor
    To match Your surrender
    To mirror not my will but Yours
    I\u2019m completely, deeply, don\u2019t-car\u0435-who-sees-me abandoned<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    [Interlude]
    I surrend\u0435r all<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    [Verse 2]
    Oh, only You\u2019d have thought it up
    This wild arithmetic of love
    \u2018Cause 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\u2019ll breathe with every breath I\u2019ve got
    \u2018Cause like the air in the grave<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    [Chorus]
    I\u2019m completely, deeply, sold-out, sincerely abandoned
    I\u2019m completely, freely, hands-to-the-ceiling enamored
    My one-life endeavor to match Your surrender
    To mirror not my will but Yours
    I\u2019m completely, deeply, I-don\u2019t-care-who-sees-me abandoned<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    [Interlude]
    Oh, I surrender all
    I surrender all
    Oh, I surrender all
    Oh<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    [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<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The failures I hide
    The victories I don\u2019t
    The battles I fight
    Each crown that I hoard
    Consider it Yours, Lord
    Consider it Yours, Lord<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The plans that I\u2019ve 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<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The glory forever
    The grave that You won
    The praise of the heavens
    The kingdom to come
    Consider it Yours, Lord
    Consider it Yours<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    [Chorus]
    \u2018Cause I\u2019m completely, deeply, sold-out, sincerely abandoned
    I\u2019m completely, freely, hands-to-the ceiling enamored
    My one-life endeavor to match Your surrender
    To mirror not my will but Yours
    I\u2019m completely, deeply, I-don\u2019t-care-who-sees-me abandoned<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    [Interlude]
    Oh, I surrender all<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    [Chorus]
    My one-life endeavor
    To match your surrender
    To mirror not my will but Yours
    I\u2019m completely, deeply, sold-out, sincerely abandoned<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    [Outro]
    Oh, I surrender all*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/a>
    Photo Credit: Brandon Lake – Coat of Many Colors Tour<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    *Lyrics to Abandoned<\/em> – Songwriter: Brandon Lake<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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