In Your Awestruck Presence

In Your Awestruck Presence

by | Feb 10, 2024

In Your Awestruck Presence - Coming Soon

by Darren Winfield

Description:

“In Your Awestruck Presence” marks a profound shift in the album’s journey. It moves from confession and surrender into worship and adoration. The lyrics vividly portray the weight of God’s majesty and the simultaneous, counterintuitive sense of profound intimacy His grace invites. This song celebrates the wonder ofstanding in God’s radiance, humbled yet enveloped in peace.

Emotional Heart:

This track evokes awe and profound gratitude. Imagine being completely overwhelmed by natural beauty, yet not fearing the vastness but feeling completely enveloped and safe within it. Similarly, this song evokes that sensation of smallness before God’s greatness, coupled with a paradoxical security – that we are deeply loved by that infinite power. It offers a moment of respite in the album, a quiet sanctuary of praise before diving back into the work of refinement and preparation.

Potential Blog Prompts:

  • Do you experience worship as primarily feeling close to God, or more focused on awe of His nature?
  • Can you think of times when a sense of God’s awe has calmed your fears?
  • What might it look like to carry this ‘awestruck’ mindset into daily life?
Blazing-Throne-of-Grace-W

Scripture Foundation:

  • Psalm 95:6: “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.”
  • Psalm 29:2: “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.”
  • Revelation 4:10-11: “The twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: ‘You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they were created and have their being.'”

Deep Dive:

Worship isn’t simply songs or eloquent prayers, but a heart posture toward God. Kneeling, as the Psalms direct, embodies this surrender – not in fear, but recognizing His awesomeness. In worship, worthiness takes its rightful place – all glory goes to Him, the One from whom life itself flows. Revelation shows even heavenly hosts offering crowns as an act of complete recognition; though we have nothing as grand, this same principle guides our heart’s orientation.

Relevance to the Song:

“In Your Awestruck Presence” shifts focus from internal struggle to the glorious wonder of God. Lyrics paint vivid pictures of His magnificence, contrasted with our smallness. This isn’t about feeling insignificant, but a joyful release to simply worship in light of who He is. No requests, no focus on problems – just basking in awe of His being.

Application for the Listener:

  • How often does worship turn into listing what you need from God? Practice praise with NO agenda.
  • Visualize yourself in Revelation’s throne room: What blocks you from full-hearted abandonment in worship?
  • Spend time pondering a single attribute of God – His love, power, sovereignty. Let that fuel your worship.

Closing Prayer:

Majestic Lord, too often my approach to You mirrors worldly transactions. Teach me the joy of worship emptied of self, my spirit consumed with simply adoring who You are. May the awe found in Your Presence reshape every aspect of how I perceive my life, my problems, and the power of Your love. Amen.

Lyrics

In Your Awestruck Presence

Verse 1

Before Your boundless glory, my spirit stands in awe,
Your majesty surrounds me, Your love dissolves my flaws.
The heavens sing Your praises, the ocean echoes wide,
Yet in Your presence, Father, is where I long to abide.

Chorus

Awestruck in Your presence, all earthly cares subside,
Doubts and worries vanish in Your love’s gentle tide.
Humbled at Your feet, my soul finds sweet release,
In You, O God, I discover perfect peace.

Verse 2

Though unworthy I may be, Your grace calls me so near,
You whisper words of welcome, dispelling every fear.
My spirit cries “Abba,” embraced by love so bold,
This precious gift of knowing You is worth more than fine gold.

Chorus

Awestruck in Your presence, all earthly cares subside,
Doubts and worries vanish in Your love’s gentle tide.
Humbled at Your feet, my soul finds sweet release,
In You, O God, I discover perfect peace.

Bridge

Hallelujah, King eternal, my heart cries out Your name,
Your majesty astounds me, Your mercy puts to shame
All my worldly striving, all my foolish pride,
With boundless love and wonder, by Your side I will abide.

Outro

Awestruck in Your presence…in You,
O God, I discover perfect peace.

Lead Sheet

  • Key: F Major – Evokes both quiet reverence and soaring wonder.
  • Time Signature: 4/4 with potential rubato – Allows for some rhythmic freedom in worship.
  • Tempo: Lento (around 50-60 BPM) – Spacious, inviting reflection upon vastness.

Storyboard descriptions for music video

Introduction

  • Mood: Tranquil, reverential, tinged with wonder.
  • Music: Gentle strings, a lilting flute melody, hinting at an ethereal quality.
  • Visual: Camera pans slowly across a breathtaking starry night sky, galaxies ablaze in the vast expanse. A solitary figure stands in silhouette, dwarfed by the cosmos.
  • Camera: Gradual zoom in on the figure to reveal their posture of awe.

Verse 1

  • Mood: Recognition of one’s smallness, a joyful release into the grandeur of it all.
  • Action: Figure collapses to their knees, arms dropping loosely to their sides as they surrender to the overwhelming sight.
  • Camera: A wide shot focusing on the posture of kneeling, emphasizing the overwhelming scale of the night sky backdrop.

Chorus

  • Mood: Worship expressed through physicality, intimacy amidst vastness.
  • Action: Figure rises, lifting their hands in graceful arcs as if embracing the cosmos. Light begins to radiate around their form, but gentle and diffused.
  • Camera: Circular tracking shot to encompass the figure and the majesty of the sky, conveying a sense of being cradled within the universe.

Verse 2

  • Mood: Humility turns to quiet communion, a personal encounter amidst the awe.
  • Action: Figure lowers hands, closes their eyes. Still kneeling, they seem to sink into the stillness of the moment.
  • Camera: Close-up on face, reflecting profound peace rather than the initial overwhelming awe.

    Chorus

    • Mood: Adoration deepens, an invitation for an even closer encounter.
    • Action: Figure’s eyes remain closed, but they lift their face upwards, mouth shaping a whispered prayer. The soft glow around them strengthens and begins to pulse in rhythm with a heartbeat.
    • Camera: Tracking shot, slow pullback, the glow surrounding the figure now stands out with increasing contrast against the inky black of the cosmos.

      Bridge

      • Mood: Quiet intensity, a holy tension between awareness of greatness and an answering love.
      • Action: Figure slowly opens their eyes, gazing directly upwards. A single tear traces a path down their cheek.
      • Camera: Upward tilt, mirroring their eye movement, but ending not on the starry expanse, but with a transition to a soft white light.

      Outro

      • Mood: Pure serenity, awe tempered with intimate embrace.
      • Action: The white light begins to slowly recede, revealing glimpses of a serene body of water. The figure’s reflection ripples gently on the surface.
      • Camera: Slow zoom out on the scene, emphasizing the reflective qualities of the still water – a microcosm reflecting the infinite space from earlier.
      No Longer I

      No Longer I

      by | Feb 10, 2024

      No Longer I - Coming Soon

      by Darren Winfield

      Description:

      “No Longer I” celebrates the transformative power of Christ’s sacrifice. It emphasizes that when we choose Him, our ‘old selves’ – defined by flaws, sins, and self-reliance – die away. Through His death and resurrection, a new creation awakens within us. The lyrics declare the victory of living ‘in Christ’, free from the condemnation of our past.

      Emotional Heart:

      This song holds a mix of joyful awe and humility. Alongside relief at a shed burden, there’s recognition of the magnitude of Christ’s love and gift. It evokes the sensation of stepping from shadow into brilliant light, no longer defined by past failings, but secure in our identity as beloved children of God. Despite its celebratory nature, there’s a thread of acknowledgment that this transformation is ongoing, that with our new nature comes both freedom and a lifelong purpose in cooperation with the Holy Spirit.

      Potential Blog Prompts:

      • Can you identify with this idea of your ‘old self’ dying away? Explain.
      • How does knowing you’re ‘a new creation’ impact how you view struggles?
      • Do you feel equipped to live out this transformed life? Where do you still need God’s help?
      Blazing-Throne-of-Grace-W

      Devotional

      Scripture Foundation:

      • Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
      • 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
      • Romans 6:11: “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

      Deep Dive:

      When we choose Christ, it’s more than an altered life path – it’s a death and resurrection within ourselves. Living ‘in Christ’ implies an exchange – His righteousness for our flawed humanity – but also a sharing of His nature. These verses point to a stark reality: what defined us before no longer has dominion. Christ’s transformative work doesn’t merely erase bad habits, but shifts our identity from sinner to beloved child of God. This carries profound implications for how we see temptation, failure, and the world around us.

      Relevance to the Song:

      “No Longer I” celebrates this identity shift. The ‘old self’ dissolves, the burden of shame is lifted, and joyful awe dawns as the new reality sinks in. The lyrics highlight that transformation is ongoing, but with Christ there’s victory and an ever-deepening walk with God.

      Application for the Listener:

      • Do you struggle to feel your past is erased? Reflect on Galatians 2:20 – your life story is now Christ’s within you.
      • Are you growing? Look for evidence of Christ’s nature – patience, kindness, generosity – where they weren’t before.
      • “Count yourself dead to sin” (Romans 6:11): How might that mindset shift your view of temptation? 

      Closing Prayer:

      Lord Jesus, the concept of my old self dying with You still amazes me. Help me truly grasp the reality of Your transformational power. Where guilt lingers, help me see myself as You see me – a dearly loved child. I ask for Your Spirit to grow increasingly evident within me, so the world sees only Your reflection. Amen.

      Lyrics

      No Longer I

      Verse 1

      The shell of who I was before,
      A faded mask I wear no more.
      In the crucible of Your refining flame,
      My former self dissolves in Your name.

      Chorus

      No longer I, but Christ alive in me,
      From chains of sin, His death has set me free.
      Crucified with Him, His victory I claim,
      A new creation, redeemed in His name.

      Verse 2

      Old habits cling, whispers of defeat,
      But by Your Spirit, lies retreat.
      My mind renewed, my spirit born again,
      The battle won, a life of grace to begin.

      Chorus

      No longer I, but Christ alive in me,
      From chains of sin, His death has set me free.
      Crucified with Him, His victory I claim,
      A new creation, redeemed in His name.

      Bridge

      Though temptations rise, Your Word endures,
      Armor of truth, my spirit secures.
      With every stumbling step and victory won,
      The work You began in me, will be done.

      Outro

      No longer I, but it is You I see,
      The living hope, residing within me.
      A vessel of Your love, a beacon shining bright,
      All glory to Your name, my guiding light.

      Lead Sheet

      • Key: C Major – Celebratory, signifying transformative joy and freedom.
      • Time Signature: 3/4 – Flowing and expressive, reflecting release from internal struggle.
      • Tempo: Allegro (around 120-140 BPM) – Lively, matching the theme of exuberant rebirth.

      Storyboard descriptions for music video

      Introduction

      • Mood: Joyful awakening, relief, a profound sense of release.
      • Music: Swelling choir vocals, a jubilant melody signifying rebirth.
      • Visual: Figure standing alone on a high peak, bathed in sunrise light. Hands stretch outward, then lift above their head in triumph.
      • Camera: Wide landscape shot, capturing the figure’s smallness against the grandeur of the scene. Gentle upward panning to further emphasize scale.

      Verse 1

      • Mood: Remembrance of struggle, but an understanding of it as history.
      • Action: Figure turns, back to the camera, but gazing past at the long and winding path that led them to this place. They smile faintly, eyes closed as if replaying memories.
      • Camera: Focus shifts to the landscape below. Pan along the implied path, ending with a zoom out to again reveal the figure atop the peak.

      Chorus

      • Mood: Celebration of freedom, unbridled delight.
      • Action: Figure begins to dance – expressive movement, spontaneous, echoing the jubilation of the music. A radiant butterfly flutters around them, lands briefly on their shoulder.
      • Camera: Sweeping, joyful shots, mirroring the uninhibited movement. Sunlight catches the butterfly’s wings as it lifts off again.

      Verse 2

      • Mood: Introspective turn, gratitude for what is gained through change.
      • Action: Figure sits cross-legged on a large rock. Hands rest gently on their thighs, palms upward. Their gaze rests on the vast landscape before them.
      • Camera: Close-up, with landscape a beautiful but unfocused background. Focus on the peaceful expression on the figure’s face.

        Chorus

        • Mood: Uncontainable joy, but infused with quiet reverence.
        • Action: Figure stands, hands reaching upwards as if physically pulling down the sunlight. Golden light suffuses them completely.
        • Camera: Low angle shot to emphasize the figure against the sky, now ablaze with color.

          Bridge

          • Mood: Acknowledgement of a constant presence guiding the transformation.
          • Action: Figure slowly descends from the peak, facing the valley below. One hand gestures upward, in quiet thanks.
          • Camera: Tracking shot following their descent, with a wide landscape reveal once again showing the long path taken

          Outro

          • Mood: Peaceful resolve, readiness for a new journey.
          • Action: Figure reaches the valley floor, and without pausing, strides forward. A vibrant sun-soaked path winds through green meadows before them.
          • Camera: Slow fade out as the figure continues their walk, bathed in light, with an open landscape ahead.
          On Your Altar

          On Your Altar

          by | Feb 10, 2024

          On Your Altar - Coming Soon

          by Darren Winfield

          Description:

          “On Your Altar” captures the heart of surrender. Through vivid imagery, it portrays the conscious laying down of everything before God. Ambitions, dreams, fears, and all we cling to symbolically rest upon His altar awaiting His fire to ignite change. The lyrics express the cost – letting go is rarely easy – but acknowledge the freedom and purpose gained when we yield to God’s plan.

          Emotional Heart:

          This song carries both struggle and determination. There’s the wrestle between a natural desire to control and an overwhelming understanding of God’s goodness and perfect wisdom. It evokes a feeling of being at a crossroads: cling tightly to what we know, or offer everything and trust in what can’t yet be seen. Within this tension, there’s a thread of surprising joy as the potential for true freedom takes root.

          Potential Blog Prompts:

          • What’s the hardest thing for you to lay on God’s “altar”? Why?
          • Can you recall moments when surrender led to something wonderful?
          • In what areas do you want total victory through letting go, trusting God’s plan?
          Blazing-Throne-of-Grace-W

          Devotional

          Scripture Foundation:

          • Romans 12:1-2: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
          • Hebrews 12:29: “For our God is a consuming fire.”
          • Deuteronomy 4:24: “…For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.”

          DeepDive:

          The imagery of an altar evokes rich sacrifice through Scripture. This act isn’t simply giving something up, but offering our totality – body, mind, soul – to God. While “consuming fire” can strike fear, it’s also an image of purification and the overwhelming power of a holy God. Our sacrifice isn’t consumed into nothingness, but reshaped, stripped of worldly entanglements, into a holy vessel for His glorious use. Romans urges this transformed state as the highest form of worship.

          Relevance to the Song:

          “On Your Altar” expresses the tension between clinging and sacrifice. It acknowledges what surrender costs – yet a vision of what’s on the other side ignites a passionate longing. It declares the relinquishing of self-made plans in favor of the divine flame shaping something better.

          Application for the Listener:

          • Visualize your life as the altar: What do you cling to most tightly?
          • Is there a difference between surrendering in action, and true inner-yielding of spirit? Where are you still holding back?
          • Romans 12:2 calls for mind renewal. Explore where your desires align with God’s, and where your thoughts must be reshaped.

          Closing Prayer:

          Loving Father, ignite a fire of holy dissatisfaction within me. Make the thought of remaining unchanged more uncomfortable than fully sacrificing what is precious to me. Help me trust that every ambition, dream, and possession on Your altar isn’t destroyed, but perfected through Your refining fire. May my life echo the glory of Your power and love. Amen.

          Lyrics

          On Your Altar

          Verse 1

          My dreams and ambitions, all my earthly gain,
          Held with trembling hands, they flicker and wane.
          Here on Your altar, a willing sacrifice,
          The cost is forgotten, replaced by Your promise of life.

          Chorus

          Take all that I am, every hope and desire,
          Set my heart ablaze with Your heavenly fire.
          My will surrendered, Your purpose unfold,
          In Your hands, I am made worthy, made bold.

          Verse 2

          This fragile vessel, flawed and unsure,
          In Your holy presence, my spirit finds cure.
          My fears and my burdens, I cast in Your care,
          No longer my own, Your victory they share.

          Chorus

          Take all that I am, every hope and desire,
          Set my heart ablaze with Your heavenly fire.
          My will surrendered, Your purpose unfold,
          In Your hands, I am made worthy, made bold.

          Bridge

          From ashes, You raise me, with new purpose I soar,
          No longer held captive to what mattered before.
          In yielding comes freedom, in surrender comes might,
          On Your altar I find strength, Your kingdom my guiding light.

          Outro

          My life is but an offering, echoing Your boundless love,
          A fragrant bouquet to the great King above.

          Lead Sheet

          • Key: G Major – Overall bright, yet can contain undertones of sacrifice.
          • Time Signature: 4/4 – Solid rhythmic structure supporting decisive surrender.
          • Tempo: Moderato (90-100 BPM) – Purposeful, conveying both cost and anticipation.

          Storyboard descriptions for music video

          Introduction

          • Mood: Solemnity transitioning to hopeful expectation.
          • Music: Begins with a single, rich instrument – cello, perhaps – slowly joined by strings building towards anticipation.
          • Visual: Figure enters a darkened space. Ahead, a stone altar is barely visible, faintly illuminated by an unseen source.
          • Camera: From behind the figure, emphasizing the path toward the altar and its subtle glow.

          Verse 1

          • Mood: Reflection on burdens carried, the cost of laying them down.
          • Action: Figure approaches altar, slowing with each step. As they draw closer, their hands clasp tightly, then gradually unclench.
          • Camera: Slow pan alongside the figure as they approach, ending in a profile shot highlighting their hesitant hands.

          Chorus

          • Mood: Decision made, offering given with mixture of trepidation and eagerness.
          • Action: Figure lifts hands in a gesture of release, as if depositing unseen items upon the altar. As they withdraw, a soft light emerges from where their hands touched the stone.
          • Camera: Close-up of the altar surface, capturing the emerging light and perhaps suggesting shadow shapes of what’s been placed.

          Verse 2

          • Mood: Wrestling with doubt, looking back at what is left behind.
          • Action: Figure slowly turns to leave, looking over their shoulder longingly. A slight frown plays across their face.
          • Camera: Shot from the altar’s perspective, figure growing smaller as they retreat, mirroring a growing unease within.

            Chorus

            • Mood: Renewed resolve, trust outweighing apprehension.
            • Action: Figure stops walking away. Shoulders straighten as they turn back to face the altar. They march back with determination, head held high. A single tear rolls down their cheek.
            • Camera: Tracking shot towards the figure approaching the altar a second time, their figure gaining focus with each step.

              Bridge

              • Mood: Inner transformation begins, acceptance of the fire of refinement.
              • Action: Figure kneels before the altar, resting forehead on the cool stone. Smoke begins to rise, wisps curling around them.
              • Camera: Tight shot of the figure’s hands now resting open on the stone, palms up. Tiny flickers of fire dance on the fingers.

              Outro

              • Mood: Surrender complete, peaceful amidst the unknown.
              • Action: Figure rises slowly, face still reflecting the intensity of sacrifice. Light suffuses the entire space, casting their form in crisp silhouette.
              • Camera: Slow fade out to pure white light, ending in silence.
              Search Me

              Search Me

              by | Feb 10, 2024

              Search Me - Coming Soon

              by Darren Winfield

              “Search Me” delves deeper after the initial confession of “Broken Before You.” With an earnest cry, it invites the Holy Spirit to illuminate the hidden corners of our hearts, the motives we don’t examine, and the destructive habits we might overlook. The lyrics ask God to expose any lingering pride, idols, or fear that prevent complete, joyous surrender to Him.

              This song acknowledges that inner-transformation can be a painful process. However, it underscores the hope that this searching by God leads to ultimate freedom and a closer relationship with Him. It positions listeners to choose openness and surrender, inviting God to shape us fully into His likeness.

              Consider these questions as potential talking points on your blog page:

              • Are you comfortable inviting God to reveal blind spots in your life? Why or why not?
              • Do you believe inner-transformation, even if tough, leads to something good?
              Blazing-Throne-of-Grace-W

              Devotional

              Scripture Foundation:

              • Psalm 139:23-24: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
              • Jeremiah 17:9: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”
              • Hebrews 4:12: “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

              Deep Dive:

              This song asks for nothing less than divine surgery upon the hidden depths of our beings. The Psalmist calls upon God’s knowing searchlight, confident He exposes not to condemn, but to lead onto paths of eternal life. We’re reminded by Jeremiah of our hearts’ deception; often, we’re blind to our true motives or harbor unseen sin. It’s through the living, active Word of God that deep scrutiny becomes cleansing rather than crushing. We can trust the God who sees what even we lack courage to face.

              Relevance to the Song:

              “Search Me” mirrors this willingness for exposure. Not only outward acts but inner idols, secret fears, and unhealed wounds are laid before God’s gaze. With lyrical echoes of fire, it emphasizes that painful confrontation within God’s love is ultimately redemptive.

              Application for the Listener:

              • Be bold. Pray Psalm 139:23-24 over yourself with sincere earnestness.
              • Examine root causes of recurring sins – it’s rarely the act itself, but an unchecked need within.
              • Practice time in Scripture not just for information, but allowing God’s Word to illuminate areas of resistance or misunderstanding in your heart.

              Closing Prayer:

              Spirit of Truth, shed light into every corner of my being. I invite Your inspection, longing for purity of heart and freedom from anything hindering intimacy with You. Help me lay down all pretenses and defenses, trusting that You expose, cleanse, and heal. May my life ever reflect Your radiant grace. Amen.

              Lyrics

              Search Me

              Verse 1

              Spirit of Truth, shine Your piercing light,
              Reveal the corners where darkness takes flight.
              Every motive, every selfish desire,
              Let them be consumed by Your holy fire.

              Chorus

              Search me, O God, know my anxious heart,
              Show me the path where true healing will start.
              If any wicked way leads me astray,
              Expose it, cleanse it, wash it away.

              Verse 2

              My hidden fears, the idols I cling,
              All that keeps me from the joy You bring.
              Unmask the pride, tear down every wall,
              Help me lay it all down at Your tender call.

              Chorus

              Search me, O God, know my anxious heart,
              Show me the path where true healing will start.
              If any wicked way leads me astray,
              Expose it, cleanse it, wash it away.

              Bridge

              Though pain may come before the release,
              Your love outweighs the desire for ease.
              I trust Your hands, the Refiner and Friend,
              In Your searching presence, my brokenness will mend.

              Outro

              Search me, O God, until freedom is found,
              Until grace upon grace in my life will abound.

              Lead Sheet

              • Key: A minor (shifting to A Major briefly) – Starts with yearning, transitions to triumphant.
              • Time Signature: 6/8 – Has a waltz-like sway, hinting at both hesitancy and growing boldness.
              • Tempo: Adagio to Moderato (around 60 BPM, increasing through the track).

              Storyboard descriptions for music video

              Introduction

              • Mood: Deep reflection, anxiety tinged with the desire for cleansing.
              • Music: Ethereal vocalizations, gentle chimes, hints of dissonance beneath.
              • Visual: Figure stands within a swirling vortex of chaotic colors – reds, blacks, greys, signifying inner turmoil. The figure is only a shadowed outline, features obscured.
              • Camera: Tight focus on the figure, the background a constant blur of motion.

              Verse 1

              • Mood: Inner plea, questioning of unseen forces.
              • Action: Figure raises hands hesitantly as if physically warding off the chaos around them. A faint luminescence begins to seep from within the figure.
              • Camera: Alternating shots between the turbulent background, and close-ups of the hands as the glow intensifies.

              Chorus

              • Mood: Bold request, vulnerability mingled with a glimmer of hope.
              • Action: Figure drops to knees, arms open wide in a gesture of surrender. The light within now spills out, creating a small but defined pool of radiance around them.
              • Camera: Medium wide shot, showing the contrast between the figure’s illuminated form and the swirling darkness.

              Verse 2

              • Mood: Exploration begins, fear still exists, but willingness to see what’s hidden.
              • Action: Figure reaches out, hand trembling, into the whirling darkness. Flecks of light begin to dance where the hand brushes the shadow.
              • Camera: Close-up on the hand, fingers brushing the chaotic background, tiny motes of light clinging to the skin.

                Chorus

                • Mood: Determination grows, light becomes a weapon to be wielded against the darkness.
                • Action: Figure stands tall, hands clenched, radiant energy now seeping from their entire body. They look directly at the heart of the swirling vortex.
                • Camera: Tracking shot, moving slowly toward the figure, ending in a tight shot of their determined face bathed in the glow.

                  Bridge

                  • Mood: Anticipation, tension, preparation for an internal battle.
                  • Action: Figure takes a deep breath, eyes focusing on something unseen.
                  • Camera: Zoom in on the figure’s eyes, which reflect the chaotic surroundings, but with a growing resolve.

                  Outro

                  • Mood: The fight is about to begin, outcome uncertain.
                  • Action: Figure lunges forward, their form breaking down into pure energy as they charge into the darkness.
                  • Camera: Blurry, high-speed shot suggesting rapid movement, followed by fading to black with only a lingering faint shimmer in the center.
                  Broken Before You

                  Broken Before You

                  by | Feb 10, 2024

                  Broken Before You - Coming Soon

                  by Darren Winfield

                  “Broken Before You” is the raw, vulnerable opening to the album. This isn’t a triumphant anthem, but a desperate confession. It confronts the pride, self-sufficiency, and carefully constructed facades we all carry. The lyrics acknowledge our flawed humanity before a perfect God, the emptiness of relying on our own strength, and our desperate need for His saving grace.

                  Musically, it might begin with a stripped-back, intimate sound, echoing the honesty of the lyrics. Imagine a single piano or acoustic guitar, with vocals that emphasize the vulnerability. As the song progresses, you could introduce some building tension, reflecting the weight of the burdens being confessed. This tension resolves in the repeated plea, “Broken before You,” which offers a sense of surrender and the first step toward the transformative journey this album explores.

                  Blazing-Throne-of-Grace-W

                  Devotion

                  Scripture Foundation:

                  • Isaiah 64:6: “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.”
                  • James 4:6: “…God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
                  • Psalm 51:10: “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

                  Deep Dive:

                  The journey toward true surrender begins in a shattered place, the stripping away of self-reliance and our desperate need for Christ’s saving grace. Isaiah calls even our best “righteousness” insufficient, like soiled rags compared to God’s holiness. Pride, that insidious sin, opposes all God is, while the humble heart receives His full, transformative favor. The psalmist understands this profound need – not for outward change, but for inward purity. But this isn’t merely a mournful confession; it’s a cry for the renewal only God can bring.

                  Relevance to the Song:

                  “Broken Before You” echoes this desperate plea. It expresses the exhaustion of carrying our own burdens, of striving in vain to appear as if we don’t need a Savior. It’s a confession that lays bare the futile hope we often place in our own abilities and a heart-cry for transformation. Yet, within this song is a thread of hope – a recognition that brokenness itself has value before God.

                  Application for the Listener:

                  • Where does self-sufficiency hide in your life? Take time before God to identify strongholds where you haven’t relinquished control.
                  • Let God’s truth in Scripture sink deep. Do you crave the “filthy rags” of self-justification, or the purity only He gives?
                  • Reflect: Is your prayer simply for relief from sin’s consequences, or for a transformed heart that desires God more than ease?

                  Closing Prayer:

                  Father God, break through the hard defenses I’ve built around my spirit. Reveal hidden pride and stubborn places where I resist Your loving hand. Create in me a heart tender towards You, one that aches not simply to remove sin, but to dwell in your perfect love. Amen.

                  Lyrics

                  Broken Before You

                  Verse 1

                  My pride in pieces on the floor,
                  The empty shell of who I was before.
                  All my self-reliance stripped away,
                  No shining armor left on display.

                  Chorus

                  Broken before You, Spirit descend,
                  Search the depths of my heart, make me whole again.
                  Shattered by Your goodness, humbled by Your grace,
                  A desperate soul in need of Your embrace.

                  Verse 2

                  My striving heart, it whispers lies,
                  Foolishness dressed up in worldly disguise.
                  Oh, wash me clean, renew my sight,
                  Show me the path toward Your glorious light.

                  Chorus

                  Broken before You, Spirit descend,
                  Search the depths of my heart, make me whole again.
                  Shattered by Your goodness, humbled by Your grace,
                  A desperate soul in need of Your embrace.

                  Bridge

                  No empty words will find me favor here,
                  But let my heart’s confession ring out clear.
                  I kneel before You, flaws and all laid bare,
                  Longing for the mercy only You can share.

                  Outro

                  Broken before You, Spirit descend…

                  Lead Sheet

                  • Key: D minor – Conveys introspection, sorrow, yet potential for redemption.
                  • Time Signature: 4/4 – Straightforward, grounding in the midst of emotional weight.
                  • Tempo: Andante (around 75-85 BPM) – Slow, allows reflection on pain, building gradually.

                  Storyboard descriptions for music video

                  Introduction

                  • Mood: Heavy, somber, a sense of solitude and struggle.
                  • Music: Sparse instrumentation – perhaps gentle piano, a single mournful string instrument.
                  • Visual: A solitary figure walks along a rain-soaked, storm-darkened path. Shoulders hunched, head down.
                  • Camera: Slow zoom in on the figure as they approach their destination.

                  Verse 1

                  • Mood: Introspection, internal turmoil masked by outward composure.
                  • Action: Figure reaches a weathered stone altar in a clearing. A single beam of light breaks through the clouds, spotlighting the altar. Hands clench into fists, released quickly, then repeat the cycle.
                  • Camera: Mix of close-ups on the figure’s face (subtly revealing conflict) with broad shots for scale.

                  Chorus

                  • Mood: Breaking point, vulnerability explodes outward.
                  • Action: Figure collapses to their knees before the altar, head in hands. Sobbing begins, gradually increasing in intensity.
                  • Camera: Slow tilt upwards, ending on a shot of the stormy sky with that single, persistent ray of light.

                  Verse 2

                  • Mood: Raw confession and the ache of exposed flaws.
                  • Action: Figure remains knelt, but sobs subside. Hands lift as if pleading, fingers outstretched.
                  • Camera: Profile shot, emphasizing the tear-streaked face and pleading gesture.

                    Chorus

                    • Mood: Desperation, complete surrender, and a hint of hope born of reaching the end of one’s strength.
                    • Action: Figure still knelt, but the body relaxes, almost slumping against the altar. Head falls back, and tears stream silently.
                    • Camera: Sweeping panoramic of the scene – figure as a small element in the landscape, dwarfed by the altar and the vastness of the storm above.

                      Bridge

                      • Mood: Quiet desperation, the pain is now laid bare for another to act.
                      • Action: Figure remains still, a single drop of rainwater mixes with a tear and splashes onto the altar.
                      • Camera: Extreme close-up on this single drop, capturing the subtle reflection of the sky.

                      Outro

                      • Mood: Unresolved tension, but a fragile peace starts to settle.
                      • Action: Figure lifts their head slowly. No longer slumped, but a sense of expectancy on their face.
                      • Camera: Shifting focus – begins on the figure at the altar, slowly pans up to the sky, clouds thinning, brighter light beginning to filter through.