Praise band River Valley Worship hails from the Minnesota-based River Valley Church where they have been leading worship for more than a decade. The worship team, led by Ryan Williams, their lead worship pastor, has a mission to share their passion for God. They beautifully state, "Our music is inspired by what God is doing in our church and is our response to Him."
This could not be more prevalent than in the powerful anthems on their most recent album, Faith in Our Time (Live). Thirteen tracks of pure dedication to the Lord are sure to bring His Word straight through the listener's ears and into their heart. Here's a look at two songs.
Thank You, Lord (Live)
Thank You, Lord, for Your mercy
Thank You, Lord, for Your grace
Every time I turned around, You were there to make a way
A spirit of gratitude can do incredible things and River Valley Worship exemplifies that statement in this upbeat worship song. I love how they allowed simplicity to resonate throughout the track without diluting the praise.
So often, we get caught up in the problems around us and become completely convinced there's nothing worthy of our thankfulness. That is so far from the truth. I've found that when I choose to praise Him, my situation is more likely to change. I break away from the temporary satisfaction that dwelling on the issue brings and allow my perspective to shift.
Instead of my eyes being fixated on the fragile and temporary world, I am transfixed on Him, aware that "the Lord is good and His love endures always." Truthfully, this choice is difficult at the moment, but it is through God's grace that songs like these are made to remind us of who to run to even when hurt surrounds us.
East to West (Live)
Oh, how that grace ran east to west
Forgiven forever, amen
Scattered my shame into the wind
Oh, how You love me
This soft reminder of God's mercy carries a message that will remain with me. The vocal diversity in this melody sets it apart from the basic level of a song, yet even with the musical embellishments, their hearts remain pure.
When the team sings, "Hallelujah, you came looking for me/Looking for me and now I'm found," it is evident that, for them, these lyrics are more than just words. The lyrics are their testimony. Each member was brought from death to life by the light of God. Of course, their stories individually differ but I love seeing how the universal love of our Heavenly Father unites them into such a tight-knit community.
To all reading this, I pray over your heart, that you would open it up to the workings of the Lord. He is a kind, compassionate, and forgiving God who transcends our understanding and tops everything we value on Earth. He is ready to work in your life and I hope you will not keep Him waiting but rather, open the door. May He move in a mighty way within you today.
Selena Schulz is NRT’s youngest staff contributor. She loves God, music, reading, and writing.
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