JJ Heller's trademark ability to be transparent and vulnerable resonates throughout her spectacular album Sound of a Living Heart, featuring "Fully Known" and "The Well." It is JJ's best overall album and was one of my top 3 albums of 2015. The 11 new tracks will make your heart sing. Each song serves as a reminder not to let go of hope, to step out of fear and into trust despite life's present struggles. JJ's vocals will soothe your soul, and several songs have vertical lyrics which will direct your attention and focus on Jesus.

Painted Red, When I'm With You and Loved have been in heavy rotation for me since they released, and they have each featured standout songs like "Your Hands," "What Love Really Means" and "Who You Are." Appropriately, to ring in 2017, I had the chance to speak with JJ and Dave about "This Year (Happy New Year)," our twelfth behind the song discussion.

Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

JJ: A couple of years ago on New Year's Eve, Dave and I were just hanging out at home. We probably haven't gone out for New Year's since before our children were born. No matter how late we stay up at night, they wake up at the same time every morning. I was scrolling through Instagram and I noticed a whole bunch of inspiring quotes about the New Year and starting fresh. I sat down with a guitar and started to write this song. The next morning I woke up and Dave and I finished writing it. It started very specifically about New Year's Day, but as we played the song all year round, I realized that knowing Christ means that we don't have to wait until January 1st to begin again because His mercies are new every morning and we are new creations in Christ and He's so patient with us. I find myself so grateful for that truth, that each day and each moment is a chance to begin again.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Isaiah 43:19 (VOICE): "Watch closely: I am preparing something new; it's happening now, even as I speak, and you're about to see it. I am preparing a way through the desert; Waters will flow where there had been none." 

Ecclesiastes 2:11 (NLT): "But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless--like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere."

Lamentations 3:22-23 (NKJV): "Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness." 

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV): "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

1 Timothy 6:12 (NKJV): "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses."

What is the takeaway message?

JJ: The song is about showing up for our own life, the life that God has given us, instead of coasting along. My tendency is to live in a fearful state. If left to my own devices, I would kind of try to protect myself from any risk possible and not step out on a limb at all. That's not what God wants for me, or any of us. In this song, I was thinking about living life like a good story and seeing each day as an adventure full of potential instead of full of risks and danger. There's an irony in that our human tendency is self-preservation and to keep ourselves safe and put ourselves first, because we think that will ultimately make us feel happy and fulfilled. The ironic part is that the more we consider others and live our lives for the good of those around us, the more happiness and joy we will end up experiencing. The more that we give our lives away, the more full our lives become.

Dave: Going back to the lyric about feeling numb, that's a reference about potentially feeling depression. I feel like depression or anxiety in many ways is an over-focusing on yourself. The lyrics that encourage listeners to "train our eyes to find the light" and think "more of us and we" are about forgetting about your own needs and looking to meet the greater needs of your community and your sphere of influence.

Lyrics:
This year
I'm not looking back to who I was
Because I'm gonna be someone
I've never been
This year
I'm not focused on the cracks in the walls
Not keeping track of all the times I fall

So long to last year
It's all becoming so clear
There is no use living in regret
Let's fight a good fight
Train our eyes to find the light
That makes this year the best one yet!
Starting right here
Happy New Year! Happy New Year!

This year
I plan on thinking less of "I" and "me"
I resolve to think of "us" and "we"
This year
I can't wait to see what good will come
To feel alive instead of feeling numb

So long to last year
It's all becoming so clear
There is no use living in regret
Let's fight a good fight
Train our eyes to find the light
That makes this year the best one yet!
Starting right here
Happy New Year! Happy New Year!

JJ's remarkable singing voice and her interesting music and lyrics are truly captivating. What's especially cool about this album is how JJ invites listeners into her life by sharing what's on her heart, reflecting on life and faith issues with every single note. If you liked the recent "gourmet" worshipful albums by Audrey Assad and Ellie Holcomb, then you must pick up Sound of a Living Heart by JJ Heller. This album is JJ Heller's crowning achievement. It is flawless, and you'll hang on every word she emotionally sings.

God's mercies are new every morning. This song and album celebrates the freedom we are promised in God's Holy Word (2 Corinthians 5:17): "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." This upbeat song provides encouragement and personal motivation to fight the good fight of faith and finish the race of life strong, to resolve to know in our hearts: "There is no use living in regret, Let's fight a good fight, Train our eyes to find the light That makes this year the best one yet!"

Christians are new creations on the inside. The Holy Spirit gives us new life, and we don't have to live anymore with our guilt, fears or worries. We are born again, and we need to live as children of God. Too often we get wrapped up in our circumstances and get down on ourselves with negative thoughts, allowing the Enemy to define self-worth. Jesus died on the Cross to set us free from the battle of our minds, from sin and death and wants us to have abundant life in Him.

The Lamentations 3:22-23 passage and this song challenges me to want to know God more deeply, and have more faith and security in my relationship with God. The whole song and album is about crying out for God's presence, and desiring to know Him personally. Let's strive to know God, and He will come to us. We have the privilege to know Him, and if you are a follower of Jesus, He lives in you and has made you His home. Make this your resolution: "This year, I plan on thinking less of "I" and "me." I resolve to think of "us" and "we." This year I can't wait to see what good will come, to feel alive instead of feeling numb." Amen to that!

Watch the music video below.