Jimmy Needham released his first album,
Speak, in 2006, on Inpop Records, and it generated respect and well-earned recognition from the Christian music industry for this talented singer/songwriter from Katy, Texas. The album generated three singles “Fence Riders”, “Dearly Loved” and “Lost At Sea,” which charted for an incredible 12 weeks at the No. 2 position.
Needham’s second project,
Not Without Love, resulted in four hit singles, including “Forgiven and Loved” and “A Breath Or Two.” Needham's third album,
Nightlights, debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes Top 200 Christian & Gospel Albums chart and No. 25 on iTunes Top 200 Albums chart for all genres of music.
Clear the Stage--the fourth album from Inpop artist Jimmy Needham releasing on March 27--sees Needham paired with award-winning producer Ed Cash for his most compelling and vulnerable collection of songs to date. As the title cut implies,
Clear the Stage is a call to absolute dependence on God. From the lead single, “If I Ever Needed Grace,” to the anthemic “My Victory,” the idea of acknowledging our need for God’s mercy and grace is woven like a thread throughout the album. Musically the album visits much that is familiar to fans of Needham’s previous albums, but also pushes the envelope with songs like the funk-infused, “I Will Find You,” featuring guest vocals from Lecrae.
“There’s a nuance I try to capture in every record, but this one was a lot more eclectic, thematically,” Jimmy says. “All of the facets of my personal life keep leading me to an expanding view of Christ: marriage to my wife Kelly, our daughter’s birth, and the miscarriages we experienced before our daughter’s birth.
“In all of these things, and in every way I attempt to navigate life, my only satisfaction—the only true answers—will be found in Christ. I’ve come to understand obedience as more than simply not doing bad things, but running to God to drink deeply in Him so that I don’t want to run to any other source.”
Jimmy’s soulful voice and personal lyrics are very engaging and all of his songs put me right there with him. I had the great opportunity to interview Jimmy Needham about his super-catchy song “If I Ever Needed Grace.”
Please tell me the story behind writing the song "If I Ever Needed Grace."
The fact that “If I Ever Needed Grace” came at the eleventh hour--when it seemed like I had nothing, and resulted in one of the most powerful songs I’ve ever written--is such a testament of God’s grace. I felt so inadequate going into the studio to make this album. Not all of the songs were written yet. I was working with a new producer. I was coming off a busy touring schedule, we had moved to a different city and my wife had gotten pregnant and had given to birth to our daughter. (Nothing has proven to demonstrate my inadequacy like fatherhood and leading a family.)
About two days before I went to Ed Cash’s house to start recording the songs for the album, I was at home and my daughter was playing. I was watching her and it hit me at that moment the incredible responsibility I have as her father. She just turned one. You understand, we as fathers are the heads of our households and need to walk rightly and know Jesus. At least in some respects, all of those spiritual matters are under our responsibilities as fathers to help our children. It hit me that I was unprepared; I can barely dress myself. I remember praying, “If I ever needed grace, God, it’s now.”
Then I thought that sentence is the story of my life. It should be the banner over my whole existence. This song is me writing a three stanza poem. It didn’t even have a melody at first. We went into the studio and one of the last days, I shared my poem with Ed and asked if I could read it to him and see if it stirred up anything in him. He sat at the piano and something happened. Within an hour, the song was written. It was one of those cool pictures of the grace of God at work. God gave us this amazing song that perfectly describes the place where I am and I think others are as well. I’m really grateful for the song.
Which Bible passage best connects to the message of the song?
2 Timothy 2:1: “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”
What's the takeaway message for listeners regarding the song?
At every moment in my life--every new trial or situation--I’ve always needed God’s grace. Being a husband to my wife, coming to know the Lord, making my fourth album, whatever. I’ve come to understand obedience as more than simply not doing bad things but running to God to drink deeply in Him so that I don’t want to run to any other source. Without God’s grace, I’ll completely drop the ball. Hopefully people who hear this song can resonate with that idea. Hopefully we can be a people that admit that we’re train wrecks without the grace of God. It enables you to do anything and everything of lasting value.
There’s a subtle request in the chorus, “if I ever needed grace it’s now.” I’m saying I need His grace every moment. I think it would do us good as the Church to be willing to humble ourselves, admit our inadequacy, and ask God for grace. God never denies His kids when we ask Him for grace. He doesn’t say no, because when He gives us grace, it brings Him more honor. When His Church can rise up in the strength of God, raising a family, serving Him, sharing the Gospel, He is pleased. The challenge is to sit and ask God to reveal to you what areas of your life where you don’t think you need grace. Then ask Him to change your heart. Any area you don’t think you need God’s supernatural power, then that’s an area where you desperately need Him.
Lyrics:
A lifetime of empty days
A hungry heart was desperate for a meal
I feasted on the bread of life
Forgiveness pierced me like a knife
Your breath filled up my lungs and I could feel
I was broke and all I could say was
If I ever needed grace, it’s now
You are strong when I am weak, somehow
I am weak enough to see
I need You to cover me
If I ever needed grace, it’s now
I met the woman of my dreams
Wanted to give her everything
Then fear came like a thief in the night
But my journal pages prophesy
That one day I’d make her my bride
Soon my best friend was wearing white
With our lives ahead all I could say was
If I ever needed grace, it’s now
You are strong when I am weak, somehow
I am weak enough to see
I need You to cover me
If I ever needed grace, it’s now
In every joy and pain
Whatever comes my way
God I need Your grace
Nine short months ’til she arrived
Little hands and lion’s eyes
And I’m so scared I don’t have what it takes
But I hear Your voice Sunday morning
Father give me eyes to see
All I need’s the power of Your Name
If I ever needed grace, it’s now
You are strong when I am weak, somehow
I am weak enough to see
I need You to cover me
If I ever needed grace
If I ever needed grace
If I ever needed grace, it’s now
Asbury’s Bible commentary: “In the grace that is in Christ Jesus clearly identifies whose grace it is as well as indicating the position that every believer has in Christ, that of being in grace. Verse 2 commands Timothy to pass on Paul's teaching. These reliable/faithful people are to be qualified and competent in teaching others. The result is an ever-widening group of informed and informing believers.”
What’s cool is that after four years of writing my “behind the song” devotionals so often I hear about these God moments where the last song for the album becomes the lead single, and how many times Ed Cash has been involved in the writing and production process. Clearly he is an instrument that God uses to inspire artists and put prayers into songs. That’s what connects so perfectly with me is how I can immediately start praying these beautiful and prayerful words to God and this has quickly become my new favorite song by Jimmy Needham, and one of my favorite songs of the year. This is a prayer that we all need to offer to God daily. We need to admit in all situations that if we ever needed grace, it’s now.
As Jimmy said, everything of lasting value comes from the grace of God. The fact that grace exists means that someone, somewhere is weak and in need. For Paul to tell Timothy to be strong in grace was telling him to be strong in his weakness. That’s what grace is--a bold insult to any sort of boasting we can do in ourselves, that we can save ourselves, rescue ourselves, or accomplish anything. Grace comes in and says that we need God’s enabling power, and that it’s available to us--inadequate people. That’s God’s upside down Kingdom. When I’m weak, then I’m strong. When I’m foolish, then I’m wise. When I think I can’t do anything, then God’s grace helps me do everything. Amen to that!
(You can listen to the song here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpZPycrWKWk)
