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BEHIND THE SONG WITH KEVIN DAVIS
#874 - "Famous For" by Alexis Slifer
Alexis Slifer starts her solo career with a song focused on our miracle-working God.
 


BEHIND THE SONG WITH KEVIN DAVIS, #874 -
Posted: November 16, 2017 | By: KevinDavis_NRT
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Alexis Slifer recently released her solo debut album, Famous For, after formerly developing her skills as a member of the teen girl band The Rubyz (part of iShine Records). Alexis has carried the same uplifting messages and heart for ministry to girls into her new solo career. 

My daughters are 17, 13 and 11 years old, and this album is perfect for them. It has been one of my missions in sharing the biblical truth behind songs to help women who are bombarded with negative messages from the world regarding body image and identity, encouraging them to know that their true identity is found in the Person of Jesus. Alexis's new title track is all about celebrating biblical stories of God's miracles in people's lives. I had the chance to speak with Alexis about "Famous For."

Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

With this song, I wrote with Krissy Nordhoff and Chuck Butler. For a few days beforehand, I prayed and journaled about what was going on in my life. The Lord was really pressing on my heart Habakkuk 3:2. With my family at that time, I was going through some tough things, and I really needed God to do a miracle. 

I was reading through times in the Old Testament where God parted the waters for the Israelites so they could get safely away from the Egyptian army, and the description in Daniel of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego being in the fiery furnace but not getting burned or even smelling like smoke, and when Daniel was safe in the lion's den. The last example in the song was from Ezekiel 37, with the dry bones coming to life. We took all of those incredible stories and said "Lord, we need those things in our time." We need those things to happen again in our lives in His way. 

We wrote the entire song remembering that God has done these things, saying "I need You to do these things again that You are famous for in my life today."

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Habakkuk 3:2 (NIV): "Lord, I have heard of Your fame; I stand in awe of Your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy."

Daniel 3:16-18 (NIV): "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

Matthew 17:20 (NIV): He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Hebrews 11:1 (NLT): "Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see."

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV): "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:13 (NKJV): "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV): "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

1 John 4:18 (NKJV): "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love."

What is the takeaway message?

I want people to be reminded that in every moment God can do something incredible, and not to be afraid to ask for that. God says we can come boldly before His throne. That's why I wanted to write this song, just saying "Lord, I need You to do this for me and I know that You can." 

I want people to be empowered in their prayer life and to know that they can go to God with anything. I'm also excited for people who don't know these stories from the Bible about walking through waters and through the fires to look these stories up and ignite something inside that was dead before. Maybe those would be the dead bones that would come to life from this song.

Each song on this whole album is about either God fulfilling a space in your life that is empty, or about you being passionate for Him because He's already done that. This song pulls all of that together in that the whole album points to Him being everything that we could possibly need, our joy, filling our empty spaces, working miracles and bringing us peace.

Lyrics:
There is no fear
Cause we believe
There is no doubt
Cause we have seen
Your faithfulness
Our fortress
Over and over

There is no hope
Outside Your name
There is no straight
Outside Your grace
Your faithfulness
Our fortress
Over and over

So make way through the waters
Walk us through the fires
Do what You are famous for
What You are famous for
Shut the mouths of lions
Raise dead hearts to life and
Do what You are famous for
What You are famous for
Oh Lord, oh Lord

Unleash You powers
Inside of us
Release Your love
And let it rush
Salvation comes
And rescues
Over and over

So make way through the waters
Walk us through the fires
Do what You are famous for
What You are famous for
Shut the mouths of lions
Raise dead hearts to life and
Do what You are famous for
What You are famous for
Oh Lord, oh Lord

Nothing changes
Through generations
Through all the ages
Your still reigning
Nothing changes
Through all our heartaches
Through all our mistakes
You reign above it all
Above it all

So make way through the waters
Walk us through the fires
Do what You are famous for
What You are famous for
Shut the mouths of lions
Raise dead hearts to life and
Do what You are famous for
What You are famous for
Oh Lord, oh Lord

There is no fear
Cause we believe
There is no doubt
Cause we have seen
Your faithfulness
Our fortress
Over and over


Alexis has consistently impressed me with her mature faith and sincere desire to serve Jesus. Being a Christian father of three young daughters, these songs all reflect the yearning for Jesus to make us brave that I pray for my daughters to feel in their hearts as well. I love how this song celebrates God's sovereignty, professing that God is the ultimate ruler over our lives, even in our very real earthly challenges. This song has really been resonating with me as I realize that Jesus commands us to trust God completely, no matter our circumstances or personal distractions or concerns. 

You have to trust God and wait on Him, wait for His plans to be revealed in your life. That story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the book of Daniel is totally inspiring, a great reminder to have that type of faith and allow God to use you. The song reflects the conviction and strength we can all have as God's army of dry bones who are filled with God's breath, and then we can breathe out as prophesied in Ezekiel 37. The song also sings about not being afraid. The Lord tells us all throughout His Word to not be afraid or worry. He knows we suffer from that attack from the enemy, who wants to rob us of our joy in God. By reading the Bible every day, God wants us to have a daily reminder not to be afraid.

Believing the words of this song is a great way to work on the disciplines of self-examination and prayer. You can know Jesus personally. Reach out to Him and know with certainty: "perfect love casts out fear." Step out in faith and trust in God, even when you want to give up or can't see where you're going. In our weakness, God's strength is perfect! God tells us in the Bible that with faith, we can do anything in Christ. I'm completely convicted by the strong lyrics and find immense comfort in this song filled with biblical truth. If you are looking for a firm foundation in your life, make these lyrics your personal prayer: "Nothing changes, through all our heartaches, through all our mistakes, You reign above it all, above it all." Amen to that!

Watch the music video below.
 



 

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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