“Be Alive In Me” by Abandon is from the group's debut full-length album Searchlights. I’ve been greatly enjoying the song “Hold On” since last year which is one of the energy-gushing songs off the album. “Be Alive In Me” has grabbed me again and I can’t get enough of the sound and message of this great new band. Abandon’s sound has been described as The Killers meet U2. I would also compare them to The All-American Rejects, Fall Out Boy, Mute Math and Christian rock bands After Edmund and Nevertheless.

I got the great opportunity to interview lead singer Josh Engler about “Be Alive In Me.”

Please tell me the story behind writing the song “Be Alive In Me.”

The song started in Nashville. We were in the middle of recording our second EP, and we started writing a song that reflected our desire for God to be real in our lives. Sometimes we can let the pressures of everyday life make us lose sight of what we should be doing as a Christian. “Be Alive In Me” is a prayer to have a fresh spark for our desire for God to be like a fire. The bridge, “excite me, ignite me, relight this fire”, really captures the theme of this song.

How can listeners apply that message in their Christian walk?

The first line of the second verse is one that we've gotten a response from, “I need You here so we can talk it out.” That really is the reminder for us to call out to God in prayer at all times, not just in the midst of trials. Let your imagination run wild and let your relationship with God be real and know that without God, we are nothing. We need to have faith “like a little child.” We also met someone after one of our concerts recently that we got to share our faith with and let her know that God's grace is enough and once we are forgiven, all we need is God. She made a decision to quit some bad habits and commit to Christ, which was very encouraging for us. We've also had great response from our song “Here We Are Now.”

Please tell me about any Bible verses that you used to write the song.

Matthew 18:2-4

He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Here are the lyrics:

Here I am without a place to start
Lost inside the desert of my heart
All of my mistakes are adding up
Take them all away I’ve had enough

Heal my jaded soul
I want to feel the weight letting go

Be alive in me
I know I’m Yours forever
Be alive in me
I know I’m Yours
So take me and shake me
I know I’m needing You to
Be alive in me I’m Yours

I need You here so we can talk it out
I’m giving You the things that pull me down
Jesus can You teach me how to stand
And if I fall I want to fall into Your hands

Excite me ignite me relight this fire

This song really has a great message and is a prayer to our King and Savior Jesus to “be alive in me.” As the song cries out we all want to feel healing and release the weight of our sin. That type of freedom can only come from Jesus who tells us in Matthew 18 that we need to come to Him with faith like “little children.” One of my most consistent prayers is for God to sanctify me and humble me so that I can do His will. As we reflect on God's gift of salvation on the cross, cry out to Jesus, “I'm Yours.”