It happened in a blink. One day, Revive was an Australian-based Christian music band on the outside of the country’s decidedly secular music scene. The next, the quartet was living in Atlanta, about to become a key addition to America’s growing Christian music industry.

Under the tutelage of Third Day frontman Mac Powell, who produced the band’s first Essential album, Revive earned a New Artist of the Year nomination in the Gospel Music Association’s 2010 Dove Awards. But that stamp of approval from the group’s peers was only a marker on Revive’s creative journey—the best was yet to come.

Testament to that is Blink, an album in which the foursome grapples with the art of living in the moment while keeping an eye on the finish line.

Once they arrived at that central idea, the album came together in a proverbial blink. The group wrote and recorded the bulk of the project in a two-month window, purposely challenging itself. I got the opportunity to speak with lead singer Dave Hanbury about his song “Blink” and this is what he shared with me.

Please tell me about the background in writing the song “Blink.”

The song came out of a session with a friend of ours named Richard, a preacher from South Carolina. We ended up doing a conference with him in North Carolina last year. His message in all his talks was “chase what matters.” We really loved that, and as a band we were really challenged by that idea. When we started writing we prayed for God to give us a theme for the new album. So we started writing songs and about halfway through we started to write the song “Blink.” So, as we wrote the song that became the theme for the new album: “chasing what matters.” That theme comes through in all the songs on the new album. We love that theme. We want God to give us an eternal perspective.

Do you have any Bible verses you used in writing the song?

Psalm 90:9-12: All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. If only we knew the power of your anger! Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due. Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

What do consider to be the take-away message for listeners?

I’ve personally been convicted by the lyrics “teach me to number my days” from Psalm 90:12. It is a prayer for God to teach me to realize that this life isn’t forever. Help me to realize what I’m living for. What am I wasting my time on? What am I doing with my life? Personally we didn’t expect to make a second album so quickly. We don’t know how long we’ll be a band. Is this our last album? Or is this our second of ten albums? We don’t know our future. We can’t worry about our future. We decided to write songs based on a theme. We’ve gotten some great responses from people about the messages of the songs. We decided to do the best we can with what God has given us. Chasing what matters is a great theme for the record: Your life is over in a blink. What are you gonna do with it?

Here are the lyrics:

Teach me to number my days
And count every moment before it slips away
Taking all the colors before they fade to gray
I don't want to miss even just a second more of this

It happens in a blink
It happens in a flash
It happens in the time it takes to look back
I try to hold on tight, but there's no stopping time
What is it I've done with my life
It happens in a blink

When it's all said and done
No one remembers how far we have run
The only thing that matters is how we have loved
I don't want to miss even just a second more of this

It happens in a blink
It happens in a flash
It happens in the time it takes to look back
I try to hold on tight, but there's no stopping time
What is it I've done with my life
It happens in a blink

Slow down, slow down
Before today becomes our yesterday
Slow down, slow down
Before you turn around and it's too late

It happens in a blink
it happens in a flash
it happens in the time it takes to look back
I try to hold on tight but there's no stopping time
What is it I've done with my life
It happens in a blink

It happens in a blink
it happens in a flash
it happens in the time it takes to look back
I try to hold on tight but there's no stopping time
What is it I've done with my life
It happens in a blink

Here’s Matthew Henry’s commentary on Psalm 90: “The afflictions of the saints often come from God's love; but the rebukes of sinners, and of believers for their sins, must be seen coming from the displeasure of God. Secret sins are known to God, and shall be reckoned for. See the folly of those who go about to cover their sins, for they cannot do so. Our years, when gone, can no more be recalled than the words that we have spoken. Our whole life is toilsome and troublesome; and perhaps, in the midst of the years we count upon, it is cut off. We are taught by all this to stand in awe. The angels that sinned know the power of God's anger; sinners in hell know it; but which of us can fully describe it? Few seriously consider it as they ought. Those who make a mock at sin, and make light of Christ, surely do not know the power of God's anger. Who among us can dwell with that devouring fire?”

I interviewed Dave Hanbury from Revive for the first time about his song “You Know” in February, 2009 right before their debut album Chorus of the Saints released. Just as this song says, it happens in a blink that 18 months later I interviewed Dave again about “Blink.” What’s crazy is how quickly the last two years have passed and the message of this song and this Christmas season challenges me to think about the truth of this song: “I try to hold on tight but there's no stopping time, What is it I've done with my life?” As we praise God for sending His Son Jesus, we also need to think about what we are doing for His Kingdom. This has been one of my most played songs this year and I love the bridge which challenges me to “Slow down, slow down, Before today becomes our yesterday,

Slow down, slow down, Before you turn around and it's too late.” Spend some time this Christmas season to slow down and dedicate your life to Him.

You can watch a video of the song here: