Today, I’d like to tell you the story behind my song How Great Is Our God from the studio recording Kingdom Come. This song came to me on August 3, 2006.
Psalm 95:3 NASB says,
For the LORD is a great God
And a great King above all gods…
This song came to me after a great spiritual triumph I had just experienced 2 days earlier. Although I do not recall the specific victory I experienced, I do remember it having something to do with helping my soul rejoice in spite of my circumstances. Because joy had come as result of this spiritual victory, I began playing a simple drum pattern on my recording software and then let my heart go. This time, I focused on the greatness of God and upon His goodness. The song is self-explanatory. God is great and He made a way for me!
Psalm 8:1 NASB says
O LORD, our Lord,
How majestic is Your name in all the earth,
Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!
When we find ourselves in the midst of spiritual warfare, we must always remember that one of the most potent weapons in our spiritual armor is the simple expression of worship to our God. When we declare the lordship of Christ in praise it cleanses our soul by helping us focus on what is truth. Simply declaring the name of Jesus causes the enemy to shudder and flee.
Lord, our Lord,
How great! How mighty
Is Your name in all the earth!
Mighty is the name of Jesus!
There is none of greater worth!
Another facet of praise as an act of spiritual battle takes place when we declare who we are in Christ and declare the fact that there is only One Redeemer and He is Jesus!
When I consider
The works of Your hand
I simply stand in awe!
Creator and Maker!
Redeemer of man!
You are the greatest God!
The chorus declares the greatness of our God…the greatness of His mercy…the greatness of His grace…the greatness of His forgiveness…the greatness of His love for us! When we declare the greatness of our God - which is simply declaring the Word of God - we know it brings about the truth of our God. Here’s what the Word of God says about itself:
Hebrews 4:12 NASB says, 12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Here is what I wrote in the chorus of this song as a demonstration of the power of God’s Word to set my soul free from the lies of the enemy:
How great is our God!
His mercy makes me stand in awe!
Amazing grace that broke my fall!
Amazing! Amazing God!
How great is our God!
His love broke through
Sin’s cursed wall!
Redeeming love for one and all!
Amazing! Amazing God!
How great our God!
Greater and higher
And deeper and wider!
Greater and higher
And deeper and wider!
Greater and higher
And deeper and wider Your love!
Knowing God loves me sets me free…casts out fear…leaves no room for doubt…brings me to a deeper awareness of His presence in my life…makes me feel like giving that love to as many as possible while I am on this earth. Here’s what the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus about the greatness of our God:
Ephesians 1:18-23 NASB says, 18 [I pray that] the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. [These are] in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly [places,] 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Even when we do not feel like declaring the greatness of our God - declaring the truth of His Word - it is a good thing to do in the midst of any circumstance we may face in life. I am battling Parkinson’s disease…and I declare the greatness of my God as my Healer and as the Keeper and Sustainer of my life. Even saying those types of things out loud to my own soul does my mind good even in the midst of physical suffering. It is just one more indication that the battleground of our lives is indeed our minds. Let’s focus each and every day on the greatness of our God. It’ll do our souls good.
Dennis Jernigan
To hear to the song How Great Is Our God, listen to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast on the subject at http://podcast.dennisjernigan.com/e/how-great-is-our-god-1589380923/
Photo courtesy of https://pixabay.com/photos/mountains-canada-girl-outlook-snow-3959204/