LISTENING It has been said, “the best worship songs are a bi-product of just worshipping.” And that was exactly how the song “Listening” was born. It was after a young adult service in Calgary Alberta, where I had led worship that night, and while I was back at the piano during an altar response time the core of this song came to be. I had begun improvising and just singing out what I felt was appropriate to what God was doing in hearts around the altar, and out it came: “Light of the world, shine on me. Won’t You light my pathway. Truth and the way speak to me. I’m listening.” It was just one of those things where I knew right away there was something to it and I just kept singing it over and over. Partially cause it was appropriate and partially, if I’m honest, ‘cause I didn’t want to forget it! ? From there I took that chorus and built into the song a bit of theology of how we hear from God. Maybe that’s the pastoral side in me, but I think that’s important. So each of the 2 verses represent one of the 2 main ways I believe we hear from him. The first has to do with learning to recognize His still small voice. He speaks in a whisper (1 Kings 19) and He wants to speak to us (Gen 18:17) (Jer 33:3) even though He is the one who spoke the world into existence! We just need to take the time and effort to seek Him and listen, learning to know Him like we do our good friends. (Jer 23:18) (Mat 13:12) The second way and verse was very important to me. I also wanted to make sure I had the balance in there that He has already spoken though his living Word that does not change and always accomplishes it’s purpose. (Heb 4:12) (Is 55:11) So anything we think God is saying we filter through what He has already said because He will not contradict himself! Finally, the bridge came later out of a time I set aside for fasting and praying and it was born out of an actual personal cry to God during that time. It soon became clear to me that this was supposed to be part of “Listening” too. My hope for this song is that it can be a backdrop and encouragement for someone else to “seek the Lord while He may be found” as well! (Is 55:6)