This is the most powerful worship song you’ll ever sing because sometimes there’s a lyric that just smacks you in the face and roots your life back in reality.

One of those phrases is from the worship song “Unbroken Praise” by Matt Redman. It goes like this:

“Let my deeds outrun my words. Let my life outweigh my song.”

Ouch. I feel so often I can stress and strive for my art to get recognized—for people to love my worship leading. For the church to love my songs. For people to appreciate what I make. But in reality, I would rather be known for my life than for the art I create.

So much of this has been said before. Especially from a writer like Redman.

Now to live the life …

A life of worship isn’t new information. It’s on the t-shirts.

If our lives don’t back up our worship songs, it’s empty.

The Most Powerful Worship Song You Will Ever Sing

Worship leaders, if our personal worship doesn’t outshine the stages we stand on, we’re missing the point.

But what is the answer? To stop singing altogether?

That’s like telling someone who doesn’t eat healthy to stop eating. For a season, that may be good. We call that a fast. But a better long term strategy is to start eating better.

Or it’s similar to a runner who knows all about running—what shoes to buy, how to stretch, the ins and outs of training, and the psychology of marathons, but doesn’t actually run. It’s a head knowledge without practice.

This Powerful Worship Song … I Surrender All?

On our new record, we’ve arranged a cover of the hymn “I Surrender All.” This is a worship song I’ve struggled to sing my whole life. It’s a frustrating, annoying song. Not because it’s old or the melody is archaic, but because it’s such a massive commitment. It’s impossible to sing half-heartedly.

Surrender all.

Really, David?

Are you willing to do that?

To add insult to injury, we added a secondary chorus that goes like this:

“Every thought, every word, every deed, this is my worship to you.”

Wow. Things just got worse.

But part of the reason I love this is because that’s where I want to live. That’s where I want to be. That’s the heart of the family I want to lead. That’s the kind of person I want to be known for.

Everything. All. Complete surrender.

So how does this happen? How do we surrender all? How can we live a life where our deeds outrun our words?

I’m not going to lie. I can sing pretty passionately. I can get down in corporate worship with the best of them. I was raised in a banner waving, flag raising, courtesy cloth dropping, Holy Ghost party environment. I know how to worship.

But I’m wondering today. And I’m asking you to wonder as well …

Do our lives shout louder? Are we pursuing an “every thought, every word, every deed” faith?

What Kind of Action Are You Taking With a Worship Song?

Here’s a question that is challenging me: “What kind of action are you taking?” Not “What kind of conversations are you having?” or “What kind of music are you listening to?” or “What books are you reading?”

What action are you taking?

To what am I giving my money to?

What people am I personally investing in?

Who am I sharing Jesus with?

How am I influencing and leaving a mark?

May we not just be known for a powerful worship song but by the quality of our lives. For every worship song that we sing, may we take twice as much action. For every “I Surrender All” chorus we declare, may we, twice as often, lay our lives down for Christ’s sake.

The most powerful worship song you’ll ever sing isn’t any particular song. Honestly, it’s any worship song that you put into action. It’s the songs you live. It’s the person you are becoming.

Sing loud. Sing strong. Sing like never before.

But make sure those songs find their home in the action you take.