If you've sung worship songs in church over past decade you are most likely familiar with the modern hymn songwriting of Keith and Kristyn Getty. The Ireland-born couple has made it a mission field to write songs filled with biblical truth and in the style of the hymns of the faith, and have blessed worshippers with their songs "In Christ Alone," "The Power of the Cross," "By Faith," "Christ is Risen, He is Risen Indeed" and many others.

I attended a Getty concert in Lansdale, Pennsylvania on May 3rd, where we sang all of those songs, along with their most requested song, "A Mother's Prayer," which appears on their album Hymns for the Christian Life.

The beauty of their songwriting is that the words are all based on Truth and every word has deep meaning and is filled with rich, passionate and living, active theology. As we just celebrated Mother's Day, I had the great opportunity to interview Keith Getty in-person about the song.

Please tell me the story behind the song, and your emotional connection as a father of two young daughters.

It is a prayer for your children. I knew I wouldn't understand until I had children but I really understand when I just kissed them goodbye five minutes ago. Now I understand the power of emotion, and love that you can have for another human being. There's nothing that compares to that love for our daughters, including performing in a famous concert hall or on television or with famous people who are brilliant musicians. It leaves you vulnerable and it is our most requested song, even way much more than "In Christ Alone." It reaches so profoundly to people. 

There was a funny moment involving this song on this tour. We were playing in Florida two weeks ago on the tour and the weather was beautiful and we felt relaxed and we thought, "Why not let the kids sit in the balcony that night and watch the concert."

Our nanny brought our daughters to the balcony and as Kristyn introduced Eliza Joy and we explained how the song was a prayer for character, for integrity, for godliness and that they would come to know Christ and that our lives would be a good reflection of that. We introduced her and she said, "Hello Mommy." Everyone clapped and it was so sweet. Then, we sang the song and she behaved so badly she had to be carried out during the song. So, we need more prayer, please. It was a good reminder that these children mean more to you than anyone else and ultimately we have no control over how things go sometimes in their lives.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV): "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight."

Psalm 119:105 (NKJV): "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

Psalm 119:114 (NKJV): "You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word."

Matthew 6:33-34 (NKJV): "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

What is the takeaway message?

Kristyn was thinking about what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount in this song: "Seek first the Kingdom of God." We know that Jesus tells us you can either serve God or serve money. That's your two options. You can go right or left--East or West. You can seek your own kingdom or His Kingdom. It is such a stark thing, because it all comes down to the uncontrollable thing that Solomon talks about in his writing: the human heart.

Solomon said he was going to write a book, Proverbs, and it is about wisdom and foolishness. The human heart is so deceptive. We can fool almost anybody with our motives. Your children notice your heart motives more than you care or want to admit and they inherit those from you. That's the frightening thing. No matter what song I write or lead, I am fearfully and wonderfully made in God's image, but I'm a fallen human being with the sin of deceit in my heart. That's the prayer of the song. That God would guide and keep our children's hearts pure and fresh. 

Lyrics:
Before you close your eyes to sleep
I have a promise still to keep
As I hold you in my arms
I pray your little frame grows strong
And that faith takes hope while you are young
This is my prayer for you

Hold my hand, I'll teach you the way to go
Through the joys, through the years
The journey of these years
May you trust Him till the end
May you trust Him in the end

This world is not as it should be
But the Savior opens eyes to see
All that's beautiful and true
Oh may His light fill all you are
And the jewel of wisdom crown your heart
This is my prayer for you

Hold my hand, I'll teach you the way to go
Through the joys, through the tears
The journey of these years
He is with us till the end
He is faithful till the end

You'll travel where my arms won't reach
As the road will rise and lead your feet
On a journey of your own
May my mistakes not hinder you
But His grace remain and guide you through
This is my prayer for you

Take His hand and go where He calls you to
And whatever comes, seek Him
With all your heart
This will be my prayer for you

Father hear my ceaseless prayer
Oh keep her in Your care

As Keith explained, this song is a prayer for mothers, and fathers, to pray to God over their children for character, for integrity, for godliness, that they would come to know Christ and that our lives would be a good reflection of that. Keith and Kristyn's oldest daughter Eliza Joy appears in the music video.

As we just celebrated Mother's Day, there are some great lyrical nuggets and profound biblical wisdom found in the song including "and whatever comes, seek Him with all your heart" and that's a key message found throughout many of the Getty's songs to "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness."

Other Scriptural paraphrasing that are excellent prayers for all parents found in this song are "may you Trust Him in the end" and "as the road will rise and lead your feet" which harkens to the wisdom found in Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV): "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight." A wonderful sentiment in the song that I very much embrace and pray over our three daughters is "May my mistakes not hinder you / But His grace remain and guide you through / this is my prayer for you." Amen to that!

(Watch the music video here.)