New Integrity Music worship artist Alisa Turner has a powerful and difficult story. Alisa has suffered with a debilitating chronic illness since childhood. When she was just 20 and recently moved from her North Carolina home to pursue a music career in Nashville, she got the call that her worship pastor dad had passed following a massive heart attack. Shaken by the loss and Lyme disease, Alisa returned to North Carolina. Her health declined until she was hospitalized and dependent on a feeding tube. The singer would remain bedridden for six years.

Through tragedy, music has always been Alisa's connection point with God. The latest chapter in that journey is her Integrity Music debut Alisa Turner EP. Her songs stem from her grief and the hope she has found in Christ. Alisa Turner says, "My life and my story are messy. There are days when all I can do is keep lifting up my hands in desperation and in worship. I know the hard parts of life well, and I can see and sense when someone else is going through it. The best way I know to lead is by example. So, I just worship. That's all I know to do." I had the chance to speak with Alisa about "My Prayer for You."

Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

A little backstory. This is the only song on the EP that I wasn't a writer on. I'll tell you that the moment I heard the song. Michael Farren and Jessica Campbell wrote it, and they knew my story in writing the song. Michael sent me the demo, and I was sitting at the airport listening to the song, and I was weeping as I heard it. They intended to pitch it to another artist. I was completely wrecked by the song in the most beautiful way. I thought people were going to think my dog just died as I was sobbing and boarding this plane. It resonated so deeply with my life and the story that the Lord has been writing and the struggles that I've walked through. I begged them to let me carry this song, and I was very thankful that they said yes. It's really been a song that helps tell my story. 

The very first line says "For anyone who's prayed a thousand prayers and still can't find the answer anywhere," and I'm in line with that. I've prayed a thousand prayers and then some in a ten year period of my life with extreme amounts of loss and fighting with illness. Particularly with illness, my Lyme disease has taken a lot of time and treatment, and it's been a constant prayer of mine to God to please, please, please heal me and set me free of this. I don't know if I ever truly will be free of it in my days on earth, but I do know that He's never let me walk through a day of it on my own, and He's such a provider and protector through all of that. This song talks all about that.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Psalm 46:1 (NIV): "The Lord is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble."

Isaiah 43:1-2 (NLT): "But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the One who formed you says, "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are Mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you."

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."

Psalm 63:4 (VOICE): "I will bless You with every breath of my life; I will lift up my hands in praise to Your name."

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?

In the bridge of the song, "May your eyes ever be on the Lord, your helper," we know that God is our refuge and our strength. I can think back to so many moments where it has felt like the world was closing in on me. 

No matter what you are going through, when it seems like it is so much more than you can handle, it is never bigger than the greatness of who God is. God isn't great just to be great. One of the kindest things about God is that He extends it to us. He always loves us. You can always find your breath and reach out to Him and be covered by Him. Know deep down in your heart that He's got you. No matter how overwhelming it seems, you are not going to walk through it alone. He protects the ones He loves. 

I've felt alone, but you need to remember what is true. Feelings get wrapped up in emotions, and we have to stick to what is true. That immediately calms me. We can step out and trust Him, and He will provide in those moments.

Lyrics:
For anyone who's prayed a thousand prayers
And still can't find the answer anywhere
Fighting off the lie that no one cares
For anyone who's out there losing hope
Feeling you're forsaken and alone
Clinging to the last strands of your rope

May God give you eyes to see, He's still greater
Courage to rise and believe He's able
May God be your peace in the fire you're walking through
This is my prayer now
This is my prayer for you

For all of those with tired and weary souls
But still have faith to ask for miracles
Choosing to believe He's in control

May God give you eyes to see, He's still greater
Courage to rise and believe He's able
May God be your peace in the fire you're walking through
This is my prayer now
This is my prayer

May your eyes be ever on the Lord, your helper
May you find your refuge in the Lord, your shelter
May you find Him closer than a brother all your days
All of your days!
And may your eyes be ever on the Lord, your helper
May you find your refuge in the Lord, your shelter
May you find Him closer than a brother all your days
All of your days!

May God give you eyes to see, He's still greater
Courage to rise and believe He's able
May God be your peace in the fire you're walking through
This is my prayer now
This is my prayer for you!
For you!

"While other worldviews lead us to sit in the midst of life's joys, foreseeing the coming sorrows, Christianity empowers its people to sit in the midst of this world's sorrows, tasting the coming joy."
- Tim Keller, Walking With God Through Pain and Suffering

We are all united in our struggles and spiritual warfare, and in our desire for Truth and relationship. The Lord wants us to spend time with Him every day. This song is a great reminder to spend time reading His Word, The Holy Bible, and to have a relationship with Him in prayer. Jesus modeled how to pray in the Lord's Prayer. From this song, I am challenged to commit to pray more fervently, study God's Word more diligently and give more sacrificially. This is a great song that stirs my heart and increases my convictions to grow closer to God during my worship and devotional time. 

What I love about this song is how it includes a personal testimony of submission to the Lord that we can all pray over our personal struggles. Our weaknesses are nothing to hide. In fact, because of our weaknesses, God's grace and strength are perfectly revealed. I can't get enough of Alisa's sincere vocals and catchy, worshipful songs.

We have all sinned, missed the mark and fallen short of God's glory. He knows that. His desire is for us to admit those shortfalls to Him in prayer and supplication and pray to Him sincerely and with vulnerability like in this song. We know "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9-NASB). That's how we hit the mark and get to be with Him forever in Heaven. That's something worth singing about. No matter what you are going through, if you are looking for the words to pray to God, join Alisa in singing "May God give you eyes to see, He's still greater, courage to rise and believe He's able. May God be your peace in the fire you're walking through, this is my prayer now." Amen to that!

Watch the lyric video below.