Singer/songwriter Patrick Mayberry made his mark with his impressive full-length album Wild Faith. The album included the hit songs, "Easy to Praise" and "Lead on Good Shepherd." He offers a worshipful musical style reminiscent of Pat Barrett and Chris Tomlin. Patrick has strong vocals, personal lyrics and a testimony of grace that can be heard in each song. His most recent release "Watch What God Can Do" is yet another song for the church. Patrick is passionate about seeing people connect with the heart of God through music and corporate worship.
Whether as an artist to set the mood for reflection and worship or for personal times of devotion, I rank Patrick highly for fans of truth telling singer/songwriters. Patrick's vulnerability and ability to connect emotionally in his songs brings me closer to God. I had the chance to speak with Patrick about "Watch What God Can Do."
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.
This is a faith-building song. God is known for taking small, insignificant things and people and doing immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. I pray this song is a reminder that just a seed of faith or the smallest step is all it takes. It's then we sit back and watch what God can do!
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
Romans 8:28 (VOICE): "We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan."
Hebrews 11:1 (NLT): "Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see."
2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV): "For we walk by faith, not by sight."
Matthew 11:28 (NIV): "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
1 Peter 5:6-7 (NIV): "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."
Romans 8:11 (VOICE): "If the Spirit of the One who resurrected Jesus from the dead lives inside of you, then you can be sure that He who raised Him will cast the light of life into your mortal bodies through the life-giving power of the Spirit residing in 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."
Philippians 1:6 (NKJV): "Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV): But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV): "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
What is the takeaway message?
Anyone who has put their faith in Jesus is a son or daughter of the God of the Universe who intimately knows them and cares about every little detail of their lives. Your biggest plans and wildest dreams for your life? God's plans for you are likely wilder, bigger and crazier. Following God can be scary, but I promise, following Him is always going to be deeper, richer, and better.
Lyrics
With a seed of faith a mountain moves With a single name a life's made new With a lifted hand, a sea became land, and the people walked right through Given the smallest things It's wild what God can do
Are you waiting for a miracle Are you thirsty for something more Are you desperate for some good news Watch what God can do
Are you wandering in the wilderness Are you desperate for an open door Are you begging for a breakthrough Watch what God can do
With a song of praise prison walls break With just one touch everything changed With a rugged cross, the power of hell lost. and the light came bursting through Just give Him the smallest things and watch what God can do
If you're empty and broken He can use, let Him use it If you're hurting, needing healing He can use, let Him use it If you're beat down, if your burned out He can use, let Him use it If you've got a story, a testimony He will use, He will use it, He will use it
Closing Thoughts
God wants to hear from you. Get to that place where you are in humble submission to God. Don't play it safe but take a chance and ask for God to be real in your life. You'll never see true beauty if you don't fully submit to Him. More than just intellectual assent, God wants to be at the center of your heart's desires. We change our minds quickly but our hearts are more devoted.
We can face our daily battles with more courage and strength because we know that whatever the outcome, based on His promise in Romans 8:28, "God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."
We serve a loving and merciful God who accepts us as we are, not who we pretend to be. This anthem of praise is a daily prayer. It asks God to come and change our hearts and lives in such a way that our behavior and the way we live flow from Him living inside of us. What a powerful expression of what it means to accept that God never leaves or forsakes us. He is all we need.
God's mercy is new each day. It's not based on our performance or what we can do for Him. He pours out His mercy despite what we've done. And there's nothing we can do except to trust in His Son, Jesus. We can't earn Heaven; It's only through complete surrender to Jesus and putting all of our hope in Him that we can be saved.
A theme verse for me for these devotionals has been Romans 8:11. And God keeps bringing the truth of His resurrection power through His Holy Spirit residing in believers to my attention. That's the beauty of His Word. It doesn't return void. Instead, it provides a constant source of comfort, guidance, and how to draw closer to Him.
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. One of the lessons I've learned in life is that we shouldn't wait to fix ourselves before we step out in faith. Look for ways to obey God and offer your faith to Him. Read your Bible daily and get that reminder to not be afraid.
The progress of sanctification, dying to sin more and more, and living to righteousness more and more, is the carrying on this renewing work, till it is perfected in glory. The great enemy to this renewal is conformity to this world. Patrick writes and sings his breath, given to him by God, into anointed new songs to encourage us. You'll be blessed by this encouraging song which is a stand-out upbeat anthem with a convicting declaration: "Are you waiting for a miracle/Are you thirsty for something more/Are you desperate for some good news/Watch what God can do." Amen to that.
NRT lead contributor Kevin Davis is a long-time Christian music fan and an avid collector. He credits the message of Christian music for leading him to Christ. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and three daughters.
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