Rising Red Street Records artist Consumed By Fire is made up of brothers Caleb, Josh, and Jordan Ward. Raised as the pastor’s children, they traveled extensively during their upbringing and were exposed to various cultures and music. Fans of rock, pop, a touch of Americana, and a smidge of country will enjoy this band's infectious and approachable sound.
If you appreciate the southern rock sensibilities of NEEDTOBREATHE and Rhett Walker Band, then Consumed By Fire is a band for you.
Consumed By Fire was excited to announce their album, First Things First. The theme revolves around ultimate surrender, with the band’s lyrics drawing inspiration from personal experiences that compelled them to set aside their fears and plans to surrender to the path God had laid out for them. The stirring music and hopeful message found in the captivating single "First Things First" mesh seamlessly.
I spoke with Caleb, Josh, and Jordan Ward in person before the We Love Awards about another one of their songs, “What If.”
Could you please share the personal story behind this song?
Jordan: We hope this song can be your anthem, inspiring you to have the courage to do all that God has called you to do. In the Old Testament, when you think about Queen Esther and what her Uncle Mordecai said to her during her “what if” moment—facing persecution and possibly death for speaking up for her faith—you find in the Scripture that her Uncle said, “What if you were born for such a time as this?” We need to consider the moments we are all facing right now. I think sometimes we project our “what if” onto a situation and ask ourselves, “What if it happens like the last time this happened?" What if that was out of season, and all of that was training for our “what if” moment?
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
John 14:6(NIV): Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
Philippians 4:11(VOICE): I am not saying this because I am in need. I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances.
1 Peter 5:7 (NKJV): “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
Psalm 55:22 (NIV): “Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV): "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight."
2 Corinthians 5:7(NKJV): "For we walk by faith, not by sight."
Romans 8:28 (VOICE): “We are confident that God can orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan.”
1 Corinthians 13:12 (NKJV): "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known."
What is the takeaway message?
Caleb: The message behind “What If” means so much to us. It encompasses all of the conversations we had with one another and with the Lord during one of the deepest seasons of discouragement and disappointment we’ve ever faced. Ultimately, we understood that the ‘what ifs of faith’ deserved more attention than the ‘what ifs of fear.' We believe that each version of this song lets you hear a new layer of our hearts behind every lyric and melody.
Josh: For us, this new music represents our chance to carry on our dad's legacy in a personal way. We're able to take the lessons he taught us from scripture and everyday life and share them with others through our music and performances. This is our opportunity to keep that torch burning for him.
Lyrics
I wanna run But what if I fall? I wanna climb But what if the wall is just too tall? Higher than my faith could ever reach
I wanna trust, but, God, I'm afraid Open my heart, but what if it breaks? It's hard to believe I'll ever be more than I'll ever be
What if I give up right before He parts the sea
But what if the door swings open To all, I've been hoping and praying for And what if my season of waiting Was changing and leading to something more, more What if jumping leads to flying And fear didn't stop me from trying What if God's just waiting for me to start seeing How big He is What if?
What if He hears all of your prayers? You cry out to Jesus to find that He's there Cause He still cares for the broken and the prodigal So don't give up on this side of your miracle
Cause what if the door swings open To all you've been hoping and praying for And what if your season of waiting Was changing and leading to something more, more What if jumping leads to flying And fear didn't stop you from trying What if God's just waiting for you to start seeing How big He is What if?
What if your doubts and fears Were the only chains that are holding you? What if the prayer of faith Is all it takes for the breakthrough? Don't get stuck by what you see What has been or what it is Don't be scared by your past to ask what if?
Cause what if the door swings open To all you've been hoping and praying for And what if your season of waiting Was changing and leading to something more, more What if jumping leads to flying And fear didn't stop you from trying What if God's just waiting for you to start seeing How big He is What if?
What if the waiting was leading to more? What if you ran through that open door? What if on the other side is your miracle? What if, what if, what if?
What if the waiting was leading to more? What if you ran through that open door? What if on the other side is your miracle? What if, what if, what if?
Closing Thoughts
You'll be raising your heart and hands in worship along with this fantastic new song. The powerful lyrics deeply move me, and I find great comfort in this song, which is filled with biblical truth. Experience joy and worship loudly about the love of God in your life. His grace removes anxiety, guilt, and shame. Know that being His is enough. In the stirring lyrics and singing of this song, I sense a heartfelt yearning for the Lord.
This powerful song will bless you with a convicting declaration: “Cause what if the door swings open/To all you've been hoping and praying for/And what if your season of waiting/Was changing and leading to something more, more/What if jumping leads to flying/And fear didn't stop you from trying/What if God's just waiting for you to start seeing/How big He is/What if?”
What a powerful message and song to celebrate our freedom, rooted in our faith in Christ Jesus. The song has a captivating and worshipful sound, with a sense of divine energy and vitality that shines through every word.
Living in this time of uncertainty, my heart yearns to be a citizen of heaven and serve my king, Jesus. As a church, we're called to care for those who are struggling. This song inspires Christians to know and stand firm in their beliefs, regardless of the world's pressures. So, don't give in. Don't abandon God or be ashamed of the Gospel. Stand up for your convictions.
Jesus tells us to trust God's Word completely, regardless of the circumstances. The enemy continually targets our thoughts, causing us to worry about various aspects of our lives. We need to release that worry and allow God to be our rescuer.
God's Word assures us that we can trust what He says about us, no matter how we may feel about ourselves. If you've placed your hope and trust in Jesus, nothing can separate you from His love. God sees us exactly as He sees His Son, and He transforms us from nothing into something.
We all need our amazing God to sort out our messes and somehow turn them into spiritual lessons. What's beautiful about grace is that it's not something we deserve or can earn – it's a gift from God.
Every day, we depend on faith to guide us. The advantage of walking by faith instead of by sight is that it teaches us to trust God more deeply in our lives. According to the Bible, we can achieve anything through Christ by having faith.
According to the Bible, we can achieve anything through Christ by having faith. This truth can be a daily reminder that we don't need to fear. Before taking a leap of faith, address any personal struggles. Seek out opportunities to follow God's will and place your trust in Him.
Abraham was called a "friend of God." He decided to allow his nephew Lot to choose which direction to take. However, instead of choosing by faith, Lot made his decision based on what he could see. In response, Abraham decided to walk by faith rather than by sight. God recognized his obedience and credited it to him. Righteousness is derived from faith in the unseen, as exemplified by Abraham in the Bible. Being a Christian means that we walk by faith, not by sight. Faith requires that we rely on what is unseen. Amen to that.
NRT lead contributor Kevin Davis is a long-time enthusiast and devoted collector of Christian music. He believes that the message of Christian music has led him to Christ. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and three daughters.
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