I have loved the song "Worth it All," co-written by Ben Cantelon and Benji Cowart, since I first worshiped along with the song on Ben Cantelon's album Everything in Color, and then again as the title track of Worth it All by Meredith Andrews, which was my Top Worship Album of 2013.

Both of those recordings are studio versions, and I highly recommend them. We've also been singing the song at my church, and we really connect as a body of believers with the convicting and truth-filled words of the song. When I heard the live version on Set Apart by Worship Central, I knew I had to feature the story and Scripture behind this amazing song for the Church.

All of the songs on Set Apart have refrains that worship with awe and wonder the greatness of the Cross, and every single song could be added to your Sunday morning set list. The song is a gorgeous offering to our Savior and Redeemer Jesus. I had the great opportunity to interview Ben Cantelon about the song.

Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

The process of this song is interesting, as it was also part of my last album Everything in Color, which released in 2012. That seems like ages ago. I co-wrote the song with Benji Cowart, Jonathan Smith and Jason Ingram, who produced my album. This song came at the very end of the recording process. It felt like we needed one more song for the album.

I can't take all of the credit because I worked with some amazing writers, and it was such a privilege to work with them. Jonathan brought the idea of the song, and there was something about the song that really grabbed me. I thought it was such a truth that we needed to be singing. We need songs that say "I surrender" and "I give everything." At that point, we worked together on the lyrics of the verses and finished the song rather quickly. Now, the song is the heard the way we wrote it that day. I'm so grateful to have been part of writing this song.

For me, it is a song of surrender. We live in such a culture where everything is within reach through the press of a button on a phone or an online search. We have access to everything instantly. We have fast food, instant coffee, and when we have access to so many things we can get caught up in all of that and lose sight of what we're really meant to do as followers of Christ.

All throughout Scripture when Jesus walked on the earth, He talked about "taking up your cross" and living your life fully devoted to Him. I love how in Matthew 16 it says "What good would it be to gain the whole world, and forfeit your soul?" In other words, what do you want in exchange for your soul? That's pretty serious stuff. It's not fluff. As believers we get caught up in everything around us, and we need to do as the song says and let go of it all just to have more of Him.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Luke 9:57-62 (NKJV): Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, "Lord, I will follow You wherever You go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." Then He said to another, "Follow Me."

But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God." And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house." But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

Matthew 16:24-26 (VOICE): If you want to follow Me, you must deny yourself the things you think you want. You must pick up your cross and follow Me. The person who wants to save his life must lose it, and she who loses her life for Me will find it. Look, does it make sense to truly become successful, but then to hand over your very soul? What is your soul really worth?

What is the takeaway message?

When we let go of all that we are and have all of Jesus, that's where we truly find life, peace and joy in this life. I was privileged to be part of this live album, and I produced it as well. It feels like my baby in many ways. We spent a lot of time crafting these songs, putting them together and recording them. We recorded another live album, Let it Be Known, not too long ago, and this song was meant to be on that recording and for some reason it didn't feel right for that project. For this album, Set Apart, it felt like the song had more time. It is a slow grower in some ways, but the timing for this album is so right. I am sure that there is more life for this song. I knew it would be a moment on the album, and where it is placed, it puts everyone in a receive posture and devotional mode.

The song is a prayer. In the verses we are declaring there is nothing more important than Jesus. Wanting to give everything else up and follow Him is the message of the song. It fits the theme of the new album. In putting the songs together, we wanted songs of surrender, adoration and joy. This song fits as a song of surrender. We are excited about all of the songs, and hope people connect to the truth of the messages and that they are closer to Jesus.

Lyrics:
All I am Lord here before You
Reaching out for more
You're the promise never failing
You are my reward You are my reward

I let go of all I have just to have all of You
And no matter what the cost I will follow You
Jesus everything I've lost I have found in You
When I finally reach the end I'll say
You are worth it all

There's no riches earthly treasure
That will satisfy
Every longing for You Jesus
Set this heart on fire set this heart on fire

When I'm there in Your glorious presence
Every knee is bowed before You
Hear the sound of heaven singing
You are worth it all
All the saints cry holy holy
Angels singing worthy worthy
Forever I will shout Your praises
You are worth it all

I sing this song at the top of my lungs in total devotion to God. I am moved by the vulnerable and prayerful lyrics "I let go of all I have just to have all of You. And no matter what the cost, I will follow You. Jesus everything I've lost, I have found in You. When I finally reach the end I'll say You are worth it all!" As Paul says in Ephesians 3:18 (NIV), only "through His Spirit...may you be able to comprehend the width, length, depth, and height of the Love of Christ."

This song reminds me to make Jesus the Lord of my life and for every activity and thought in my life to point to His complete Lordship. When you sing the words "When I'm there in Your glorious presence, every knee is bowed before You. Hear the sound of heaven singing You are worth it all," the devotional thought we should all be thinking is whether we are submitting our lives to that truth or just singing the words.

The song declares to Jesus, "You are my reward." Are we living our lives as though salvation is our reward, or are we living for temporal things? Appropriately the album is titled Set Apart, and as Christians, our calling is to be separate and holy, set apart for God. The bridge sets my heart on eternity, and it is the blessed hope for all believers. Worship is defined as what are we putting our "worth-ship" in, and this album allows us to think about whether we are living for heaven. Once we live for heaven, your joy is no longer tied to your circumstances. A good day isn't about what you did, but about how you've allowed God to use you for Him.

Allow the fullness of Christ's Love to indwell your heart and proclaim the truth of this song to prepare your heart for the birth of our Savior and sing along "There's no riches, earthly treasure, that will satisfy, every longing for You Jesus, Set this heart on fire." Jesus wants us to pray those words to Him, allowing His Holy Spirit to guide us, for that to be our peace that surpasses understanding. That's a gift that Jesus offers all of us as His followers this Christmas season. Amen to that!

(Watch the lyric video here.)