Atlanta-based Casting Crowns has consistently delivered music that points believers back to what truly matters, and the band does so yet again with Thrive. Lead singer Mark Hall's new devotional book of the same title is divided into sections exploring the themes of digging deep and reaching out.

My family and I had a wonderful evening in Philadelphia on March 2nd, singing along with three Dove Award-winning artists—for KING & COUNTRY and Laura Story—with Casting Crowns performing an opening set of songs about digging deep, and returning with a set of songs about reaching out.

I spoke with for KING & COUNTRY's Luke and Joel about their set before the concert about the new songs, "Fix My Eyes" and "Thorn" from their upcoming album due to be released fall of 2014, the follow-up to Crave.

Joel shared, "Our new song, 'Fix My Eyes,' was a song that we had written at the end of 2012, at the time of the success of 'The Proof of Your Love.' That was a transitional time for the band. I was about to be married, and Luke was about to have a baby, and we had finished our first headlining tour. We thought things were great and our lives had taken an awesome turn, but we took a step back and asked ourselves who we are as people and as a band, and it was interjecting all of those things into a song.

"The verses are about everything from speaking up for freedom and fighting for abandon and risking it all for love. The chorus culminates in saying that we can do all of these things but if we don't fix our eyes, meaning repair our eyes, and fix our eyes on above, then all of these things are worthless. Our plan is for that to be the lead single for the new album."  

"Fix My Eyes" kicked off the night of singing about digging deep and reaching out in style. The band members all banged drums and sang with a reckless abandon which energized the crowd. Look out for the release of this great new song.

After a rousing rendition of their hit song, "Middle of Your Heart," Luke performed the new ballad, "Thorn." Before the concert Luke shared, "Last year I got very sick and had to come off the road for a couple of months. Quite frankly it was one of the darkest times of my life. I really struggled and I didn't know if I was going to get better to the point that I'd be able to work again or hold my little boy. My wife came to me and told me she was worried she was going to lose me and told me, 'You can't just leave me here.' It wasn't something I was prepared to hear at 26 years old. I struggled with that and I wrote this song about that experience."

He continued, "One of the lyrics is 'Let's laugh a little. Let's dance a little. Let's hope a little more.' What I realized in this experience is that I do at least have today. I need to make a difference with the time I'm given. When it comes to being a husband and a father, these days matter."

The stirring ballad sings about Luke's personal "thorn in the flesh" like Paul in the Bible, and is a wonderful reminder to live for what matters, which was truly a theme of the night. They closed with their mega-hit song, "The Proof of Your Love," which is easily one of the best songs I've heard live. 

Although we were expecting Laura Story to sing next, to our surprise, Casting Crowns took the stage and opened with "Lifesong" which flowed into "Already There." For their sixth studio album, Mark Hall once again took some of the messages he's shared with students and parents at his home church, Eagles Landing, and pours them into songs.

The energetic and infectious song "Thrive" is inspired by Psalm 1: "But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season..." The song celebrates what it means to know Jesus: it's to know His Word and have a personal relationship with Him. "All You've Ever Wanted" deals with our struggle with failure, the enemy's biggest trick. 

The string of hits continued with "East to West," based on Psalm 103:12. "Who Am I" is my all-time favorite Casting Crowns song. The song is really a prayer, praising God for saving us because of who He is, not for what we've done. "This Is Now" is based on Peter's doubt. The song switches to the Person of Jesus reassuring us that "When you couldn't come to Me, My Love came down, so take My hand, I'll lead you out, that was then, this is now."

After a brief intermission, Laura Story led us in a set of worshipful songs, beginning with the song she wrote in college that got it all started, "Indescribable." Then, she sang "Who is Like Our God" which we discussed before the concert for an upcoming "behind the song" devotional. We immediately connected with the sing-able and vertical lyrics, which answers the question in the chorus with the bridge, "There is no one, no one else."

"Blessings" has some of the best lyrics I've ever heard. This world is not our home. As the song so beautifully depicts, we weren't made for this world. Laura closed with a sing along of her version of Hillsong's "Mighty to Save."

Casting Crowns returned to the stage and treated us to an acoustic set of songs, including, "Lifesong," "Does Anybody Hear Her" and "Courageous." The powerful lyric of the latter exhorts men to lead bold, uncompromising lives for the Lord. The bridge of the song has a great takeaway "reaching out" message: "Do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8). 

Crowns kept the theme of commitment going with "Broken Together" and "House of Their Dreams." I was very moved when Hall sang "God only You can save our family, and on this Rock we'll build / on this Rock we'll build, the house of our dreams." They are some of the best family restoration songs I've ever heard, born from Crowns' commitment to families. 

Lead singer Mark Hall grew up with dyslexia and God called him to write and sing songs, which led to "Voice of Truth." Hall's personal story and stirring songs challenge listeners in times of self-doubt to listen to "the voice of Truth." "Jesus, Friend of Sinners" sings "the world is on their way to You, but they're tripping over me; always looking around, but never looking up; I'm so double-minded." That type of bold lyric for the church has been this band's trademark, and highlights "reaching out" in faith.

The entire night was a reminder that "we were made to more than just survive, we were made to thrive." If you've never had the privilege to see these great artists live, don't miss out the next time they are in your area. These artists provide a worshipful concert experience that I highly recommend.