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BEHIND THE SONG WITH KEVIN DAVIS
#673 - "Yours" by Becca Bradley
New artist Becca Bradley invites listeners into confession that leads to freedom with this new song.
 



New artist Becca Bradley's music is the result of a long road through multiple musical settings. Although she settled on cello as her primary musical outlet at the age of 8 and found success in classical groups as a result, it would be songwriting classes at Belmont University that would eventually redirect her passion to songwriting. Now a Belmont graduate, Becca played for Francesca Battistelli's band for a year, but the full calendar didn't stop her from pursuing her personal calling in music.
 
The most recent result of that calling is her second studio EP, The Lion's Eyes, released August 7. Featuring Bradley's bright pop vocal style reminiscent of Leigh Nash and her signature gifting as an accomplished cellist, her songs and voice are infused with remarkable emotional range and a thematic message throughout the six-song EP that points to a Jesus who is undeniably compelling to those first hearing the gospel. Becca's songwriting process is steeped in prayer and focused on what God has to say, and that relationship is expressed in her songs as a result. I had the chance to speak with Becca about "Yours."
 
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.
 
I wrote this song completely on my own. I got to a place with the Lord asking Him what He wanted me to say, and I got to the place where He gave me the lyrics and melody. I holed myself in my room for hours. Although it's the least pop music sounding song on the album, it's the song I've received the most feedback about.
 
It's a really vulnerable song. I wrote it from a place of brokenness. I admit to God in the song "I'm not perfect and I'm stumbling and I need You." I think the song opens the door for people to know that they are not alone in their imperfection. It is one of the biggest lies the enemy tells us. I was really afraid to share my story. I was struggling with it and putting on this façade of perfection and feeling really isolated in my imperfection. I'm stumbling and still messing up in certain ways.
 
I like looking at the heroes of the faith in the Bible. When you look at the life of Peter, he was one of Jesus's closest friends and most devoted followers, and yet he denied the Lord three times. He played a huge role in spreading the Gospel throughout the nations, but in his moment of weakness, he denied the One he loved the most. David was known as "a man after God's own heart," and yet we know he made mistakes.
 
It's important in the lives of believers that you can't address a problem if you don't acknowledge that it's there. This song is about me acknowledging that I've made mistakes and denied God's perfect love, I've fought His grace with my filthy defiled hands, and yet He's never turned His face from me.
 
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
 

Psalm 63:4 (VOICE): "I will bless You with every breath of my life; I will lift up my hands in praise to Your name."

Acts 2:28 (VOICE): Instead, You direct me on a path that leads to a beautiful life. As I walk with You, the pleasures are never-ending, and I know true joy and contentment.
 
Deuteronomy 31:6 (NKJV): "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you."
 
Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV): Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
 
1 John 3:1 (NLT): See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us His children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don't recognize that we are God's children because they don't know Him.
 
What is the takeaway message of the song and album?
 
God calls us worthy and adored, and most importantly we are His. Thinking about how parents love their children, you love them because they are yours. Nothing can change that. Meditating on that truth as a believer, we can know that no matter how we behave, Jesus loves us the same. We strive to do our best to live for Him in every moment, but even in those moments where we mess up and our hands are defiled in fighting His love and grace, He calls us worthy and adored.
 
In the bridge of "The Lion's Eyes," I sing "You call me chosen, accepted, forgiven, free. Though I am broken, You've spoken, and now I see who I was made to be," which reminds me of "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus," which references "the things of this life will grow strangely dim." Fixing our eyes on Him helps make the things of the world less important.
 
There's an underlying happy tone to the songs on this album, and if you ever meet me in person you'll notice that I'm one of those constantly happy people. I can't really turn it off. The underlying message I want people to walk away from this album with is reflected in the tone of the happy songs that start and end the album. People who don't know the Lord think being a Christian is about rules and limits and limitations. It's so the opposite. I feel like my life with Jesus has been so much more of an adventure than it was beforehand. I felt more tied down and weighed down before I knew the Lord than I do now.
 
The songs hit on being in a dark place in your life, but reflect my heartbeat of being upbeat and celebratory. I walk around joyful all the time because of what the Lord has done in my life. I want people to recognize that God's love won't let go. There's nothing that we could have said or done that could ever take His love away. He's not going to let go of us. Regardless of what we've said or done, He looks at us and calls us His children. That's miraculous in itself.
 
Lyrics:
I have run
I've run away from Your love
I have hidden
So afraid I'd never be enough
I have fought
I've fought Your grace with hands defiled
Still You never turned Your face from this child
 
When I lose it all and fall down at Your feet
 
You pick me up
You pull me in
You look into my heart past all the filth and sin
You call me worthy
You call me adored
You call me into the dark and lead me back to shore
You call me Yours
 
You pick me up
You pull me in
You look into my heart past all the filth and sin
You call me worthy
You call me adored
You call into the dark and lead me back to shore
You call me Yours
 
What kind of King would shed His blood to make me whole?
What kind of Lover would give His life to save my soul?
What kind of God would take my place on the Cross?
Oh what mercy, Oh what grace
To pay that cost
 
Now I lose it all and fall down at Your feet
 
And You pick me up
You pull me in
You look into my heart past all the filth and sin
You call me worthy
You call me adored
You call me into the dark and lead me back to shore
You call me Yours
 
Hallelujah to the King of glory
Hallelujah
Hallelujah, You have called me worthy
Hallelujah
 
You pick me up
You pull me in
You look into my heart past all the filth and sin
You call me worthy
You call me adored
You call me into the dark and lead me back to shore
You call me Yours
 

The song challenges me to think about what I'm allowing to rule in my heart instead of giving myself completely to God. Becca is clearly in love with Jesus, and the way these songs on The Lion's Eyes convey her relationship with our Lord and Savior is truly inspiring and convicting. From this song, I am challenged to commit to pray more fervently, study God's Word more diligently and give more sacrificially. This is a great song that stirs my heart and increases my convictions to grow closer to God during my worship and devotional time.
 
This song is all about trusting in God and confessing to Him and others when you fail or have struggles. Lay those at the feet of Jesus, and He'll take them from you and release you from that burden. God wants to hear from you. What I love about this song is that it includes a testimony of submission to the Lord that we can all pray about our personal struggles. Our weaknesses are nothing to hide. In fact, because of our weaknesses God's grace and strength are perfectly revealed. I can't get enough of Becca's sincere vocals and catchy, worshipful songs.
 
Right from my first listen I was hooked by the Psalm-like reflective lyrics, especially in "Yours," which has sincere and prayerful lyrics. Becca is clearly a grateful believer who is unashamed of her salvation, and many of her songs are invitations into her prayer life. If you don't know how to word your prayers of thankfulness for what Jesus has done for you, just sing along with this incredible song of faith.
 
We all need to remember that we're not able to save ourselves. Only Jesus can give us our true identity. "Yours" is a very personal song where Becca really unveils what's on her heart. I love it when she personally prays "I've fought Your grace with hands defiled, still You never turned Your face from this child." What a powerful expression of what it means to accept that God never leaves or forsakes us as His followers. He is all we need. Join in with Becca as she prays out to Jesus: "You call me worthy, You call me adored, You call into the dark and lead me back to shore, You call me Yours, You call me Yours." Amen to that!
 
Listen to the song here.

 

NRT Lead Contributor Kevin Davis is a longtime fan of Christian music, an avid music collector and credits the message of Christian music for leading him to Christ. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and three daughters.

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