I credit the biblical messages of Christian music crossing over to mainstream music, in particular the debut Jars of Clay album, for leading me to Christ, for which I'm eternally grateful. I was a prodigal son who thought my works and basically being a good person would eventually lead me to Heaven. I had to learn to have faith "like a child" and accept Jesus as my personal Savior as expressed by Him: "I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it" (Mark 10:15).

Sidewalk Prophets' 2015 album Something Different includes a song about the same themes, lead single "Prodigal," which sets the tone for the album by inviting anyone who is wandering or lost in shame to run back to God's loving arms. The band currently consists of David Frey (lead singer), Ben McDonald (rhythm guitar), Daniel Macal (lead guitar), Cal Joslin (bass) and Justin Nace (drums). Their album Something Different follows the success of Live Like That, which featured hits "Live Like That," "Help Me Find It" and "Keep Making Me."

I had the chance to speak with my friend and brother in Christ Dave Frey at Winter Jam in Reading, Pennsylvania about "Everything in Awe," which is our tenth behind the song discussion.

Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

This is my favorite song on the album. We were going through some tough stuff as a band, and we decided to get away from Nashville to write for this album. For this project we wanted to be intentional and not just write a song here and there. We wanted to go somewhere and let God speak to us. 

We put on Facebook that we were looking for a place, and we had friends offer us a beautiful place to stay to write for this album. When we sat down to write this song with Seth Mosely, we were at that lake house, which was an incredible moment to commune with God. We're so busy that sometimes we lose track of remembering to just "be still and know that He is God." It was an incredible outpouring of creativity. Most of the songs were written in that lake house just outside of Scranton, Pennsylvania. Long story short, we had this outpouring of songs in this gorgeous place. We would watch a bald eagle across the lake from us. It was awesome.

When we wrote this song, Seth was the last person we flew out to be with us for the last three days. By the grace of God and by divine appointment, we wrote three of my favorite songs on the album with him, including this song and "Prodigal." After that, we decided he needed to produce our album. Praise the Lord he did. He did an incredible job of catching our passion and lifting it up even higher. 

Ben was playing this riff that he had for ten years, and that ended up being the melody for this song. Seth told Ben to keep playing the riff, saying that if God had that melody on his heart for ten years there must be something to it. I went to my "Dave cave" to start writing, and so did Seth. I looked out the window and saw a deer and the bald eagle, and I read what C.S. Lewis said about nature, and that inspired this song. 

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Psalm 46:10 (NKJV): "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"

Psalm 33:8 (NASB): Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.

Psalm 145:10-12 (VOICE): All creation will stand in awe of You, O Eternal One. Thanks will pour from the mouths of every one of Your creatures; Your holy people will bless You. They will not be silent; they will talk of the grandeur of Your kingdom and celebrate the wonder of Your power. Until everyone on earth who has ears to hear knows Your valiant acts and the splendor of Your kingdom.

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

Mark 10:15 (NLT): "I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it."

What is the takeaway message?

This is what C.S. Lewis said about nature in The Weight of Glory: "At present we are on the outside of the world, the wrong side of the door. We discern the freshness and purity of morning, but they do not make us fresh and pure. We cannot mingle with the splendors we see. But all the leaves of the New Testament are rustling with the rumor that it will not always be so. Someday, God willing, we shall get in." 

That line totally got me. I am the type of guy who looks up at the stars for hours and finds God in them. The same God who created the stars looks down on me and loves me. Just that idea that someday we will pass through that veil-- nature is the best thing we can compare to God, but it is just this small glimpse of Him. We started thinking that everything trembles in awe of God. One day, God willing, we will get in to be with Him. In the meantime, we will stand in awe and find the worship in that. 

This song might be the heartbeat of the album. It sets the tone for the songs that come after it, establishing that healthy fear of the Lord that we need to have. We know from Isaiah 40 that He sits on the Throne, and we look like grasshoppers to Him. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy. For me, that Isaiah 40 passage always swept me up, and you'll find hints of that throughout the album. I have a child trapped inside of me, and have that faith "like a child" in my heart. Standing in awe and wonder, God smiles when He sees that childlike wonder of Him.

Lyrics:
Stars exploding in the wake of Your love
Galaxies all turn their heads
The skies are gazing on their one Creator
Universe in awe

You sit enthroned above the earth's great circle
Mountains reach for You
The ocean waves hum a lullaby
Whole wide world in awe

Can't help but be still
And know You are God
I marvel at You

My eyes catch a glimpse of every sunset
You trace dreams upon my mind
My skin and bones can feel Your touch
I shiver
Heart and soul in awe

Can't help but be still
And know You are God
I marvel at You

Frozen in my steps
Like a child in wonder
When I see You move

Everything in awe
Everything in awe
Everything in awe
Everything in awe

Stars exploding in the wake of Your love
Galaxies all turn their heads
The skies are gazing on their one Creator
Universe in awe
Whole wide world in awe
Heart and soul in awe
Everything in awe
Everything in awe
Everything in awe
Everything in awe

Other songs that I really like based on Psalm 46:10 are "Be Still" by Storyside B, "The Altar" by Tricia Brock, "He Is" by Mark Schultz, "Need You Now" by Plumb, and "Peace Be Still" by Rush of Fools. That passage is such an encouraging reminder of God's sovereignty and that He has been, is and always will be with us. If God is with us, we can endure anything. I have spent time reflecting on and singing this song to God, and it always gives me comfort. This song is a beautiful way to express our devotion, and it gives me hope and inspiration as one of God's children by proclaiming to Him: "Universe in awe, whole wide world in awe, heart and soul in awe, everything in awe."

God can do immeasurably more than anything and everything one can ask or even imagine, and this song is a true celebration of the great biblical truth of "Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us" from Ephesians 3:20.  God is speaking to us in His still small voice, and as believers we need to take time to "be still and know that He is God."  Are you allowing The Holy Spirit to work in your life? Are you spending time listening to Him? He'll make you free, and God wants to hear from you. 

"Everything in Awe" reflects the thematic and biblical proclamations found throughout the album and found in Hebrews 4:16 (ESV): "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need," and Psalm 89:7 (NLT): "The highest angelic powers stand in awe of God. He is far more awesome than all who surround His Throne." 

God wants us to boldly approach the Throne of mercy and grace. "Keep Making Me" was my most played song from Live Like That, and this is my favorite song from Something Different. We can all celebrate the truth behind this song, singing to God with all our hearts "Can't help but be still and know You are God, I marvel at You." Amen to that!

Listen to the song below.