Jesus Will Overcome
1 John 4:1-4, Ephesians 6:10-17
About the song
First of all, I want to make sure you know this - I wrote this song in the context of facing a personal challenge or going through a struggle, and believing that Jesus will overcome it. When you're talking to your kids about this, make sure they know that the reason He will overcome that challenge is because, according to scripture, He has ALREADY overcome the world. The reason we don't have to fear our current troubles is NOT because of something He WILL do, but because of something He HAS ALREADY done!
This was probably the first song I wrote after the first Hey James! album came out. Around that time, I was quitting my job of six years to go back to school full time to become a teacher. As a fully grown adult with a job and bills already, the call to be obedient felt looming and ominous. That call, though, as it probably has been in your life, was undeniable.
That call, to me, begs a very important question: how often do you reflect on what God has helped you to overcome? This question crossed my mind a number of years ago, when I had just led worship at a youth camp for the first time. After the last set on the last night, I set my guitar down, left the stage, found an unlocked door to a room we weren't using, and I wept. I wept at the thought of all the things that, had God been less faithful, would have broken me. Years later, that feeling has become like an old friend! I've done my best to make a habit of reflecting on the hurdles that God has gracefully lifted me over so that I might continue to run the race.
Challenges are inevitable, but God is faithful. He is strong. The Word says that Christ, who lives in us, has already overcome the world, because He is greater than anything that comes from the world. This is what I wanted your kids to know, right out of the gate, on an album that is about being more influential than influenced. I wanted to acknowledge that there will be challenges that have the capacity to break your spirit, but Jesus overcomes them.
At the end of the day, this is a song about how much I believe in your kids and what God will do through them. They will grow up and live in a world full of broken hearts that will try to break other hearts. But by God's greatness and eternal faithfulness, they can now overcome the world and anything that comes from it.
You won't have to listen terribly closely to hear the voices of the kids at Without Walls singing "Jesus Will Overcome" the last few times through the chorus. You are hearing the voices of a group of about 10 kids, age 4-14, who can testify to the truth of this song. They are kids whose parents have made sure they know that the God who saved them lives in their hearts and is stronger than anything they will ever face! I wanted to include these kids, who have been used by God in my heart countless times in countless ways. During mixing and mastering, I probably listened to this 1000 times, and I still get goosebumps at the part when their voices come in!
When you talk to your kids about this song, tell them stories of things God has overcome in their lives. I am sure that even at their young ages, there is much to tell!
Lyrics
I will cover my heart with His righteousness - and do what God says I should do
I will strap on the shoes and buckle my belt of truth
And stand strong in the good news
Greater is He who lives in me
Jesus will overcome
Mighty to save, there is no stronger name
Jesus will overcome
And with the helmet of salvation on my head, I have peace of mind from the Lord
And the faith in my heart is like a shield on my arm
And God's Word, a mighty sword
Greater is He who lives in me
Jesus will overcome
Mighty to save, there is no stronger name
Jesus will overcome
Children of God, do not be afraid of what comes from the world
'cause He sets forth our paths and He watches our backs
And He loves us, every one!
Greater is He who lives in me
Jesus will overcome
Mighty to save, there is no stronger name
Jesus will overcome
1 John 4:1-4, Ephesians 6:10-17
About the song
First of all, I want to make sure you know this - I wrote this song in the context of facing a personal challenge or going through a struggle, and believing that Jesus will overcome it. When you're talking to your kids about this, make sure they know that the reason He will overcome that challenge is because, according to scripture, He has ALREADY overcome the world. The reason we don't have to fear our current troubles is NOT because of something He WILL do, but because of something He HAS ALREADY done!
This was probably the first song I wrote after the first Hey James! album came out. Around that time, I was quitting my job of six years to go back to school full time to become a teacher. As a fully grown adult with a job and bills already, the call to be obedient felt looming and ominous. That call, though, as it probably has been in your life, was undeniable.
That call, to me, begs a very important question: how often do you reflect on what God has helped you to overcome? This question crossed my mind a number of years ago, when I had just led worship at a youth camp for the first time. After the last set on the last night, I set my guitar down, left the stage, found an unlocked door to a room we weren't using, and I wept. I wept at the thought of all the things that, had God been less faithful, would have broken me. Years later, that feeling has become like an old friend! I've done my best to make a habit of reflecting on the hurdles that God has gracefully lifted me over so that I might continue to run the race.
Challenges are inevitable, but God is faithful. He is strong. The Word says that Christ, who lives in us, has already overcome the world, because He is greater than anything that comes from the world. This is what I wanted your kids to know, right out of the gate, on an album that is about being more influential than influenced. I wanted to acknowledge that there will be challenges that have the capacity to break your spirit, but Jesus overcomes them.
At the end of the day, this is a song about how much I believe in your kids and what God will do through them. They will grow up and live in a world full of broken hearts that will try to break other hearts. But by God's greatness and eternal faithfulness, they can now overcome the world and anything that comes from it.
You won't have to listen terribly closely to hear the voices of the kids at Without Walls singing "Jesus Will Overcome" the last few times through the chorus. You are hearing the voices of a group of about 10 kids, age 4-14, who can testify to the truth of this song. They are kids whose parents have made sure they know that the God who saved them lives in their hearts and is stronger than anything they will ever face! I wanted to include these kids, who have been used by God in my heart countless times in countless ways. During mixing and mastering, I probably listened to this 1000 times, and I still get goosebumps at the part when their voices come in!
When you talk to your kids about this song, tell them stories of things God has overcome in their lives. I am sure that even at their young ages, there is much to tell!
Lyrics
I will cover my heart with His righteousness - and do what God says I should do
I will strap on the shoes and buckle my belt of truth
And stand strong in the good news
Greater is He who lives in me
Jesus will overcome
Mighty to save, there is no stronger name
Jesus will overcome
And with the helmet of salvation on my head, I have peace of mind from the Lord
And the faith in my heart is like a shield on my arm
And God's Word, a mighty sword
Greater is He who lives in me
Jesus will overcome
Mighty to save, there is no stronger name
Jesus will overcome
Children of God, do not be afraid of what comes from the world
'cause He sets forth our paths and He watches our backs
And He loves us, every one!
Greater is He who lives in me
Jesus will overcome
Mighty to save, there is no stronger name
Jesus will overcome