Contemporary artist Consumed By Fire is made up of brothers Caleb, Josh, and Jordan Ward. Raised as pastors’ kids, they traveled a lot growing up and were exposed to various cultures and music. They were excited to reveal their album, First Things First. Centered on the theme of ultimate surrender, the band’s lyrics draw from personal experiences that pushed them to overcome their fears and abandon their own plans, embracing the path God set before them.
The stirring music and hopeful message found in the captivating single "First Things First" mesh seamlessly. Fans of rock, pop, a touch of Americana, and a smidge of country will enjoy this band's infectious, accessible sound. If you like the southern rock sensibilities of NEEDTOBREATHE and the Rhett Walker Band, you need to stay tuned to what's next from Consumed By Fire, as they are a band to watch. I spoke with Jordan Ward about “God’s Still Working on Me,” from their newest album, Whole Wide World.
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.
This is a deeply vulnerable song about choosing to surrender to God’s plans rather than the illusion that we can be perfect. This song addresses human flaws, private struggles behind closed doors, and the comfort of knowing God continues to heal and rebuild broken pieces. In writing the song together, we wanted to acknowledge our personal stumbles, mistakes, and the parts of ourselves we wish we did not have to face.
Which Bible verses connect to the song's message?
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 own 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 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.”
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?
Our journey as Christians is one of ongoing restoration. The song's core message is that even when scars or brokenness are visible, God is still at work behind the scenes. The takeaway message is about grace and growth. The song acknowledges that yesterday's grace is gone and that daily life requires leaning on God's ongoing transformation.
Lyrics
God knows I ain’t perfect
And Lord, ain’t that the truth
There are some sides of me I pray
I’ll never have to show you
I’ve said and I’ve done things
I wish I wouldn’t do
I’ve stumbled the straight line
Lord knows, more than a few
But I remember the night
I gave Jesus my yes
And said if you can use a mess like me
Then This is my late night
Hard kinda heart cry
Praying God, I need you
Can You make it all right?
Don’t wanna abuse the grace I needed before
Cause Yesterdays gone and Lord, I’m still needing more
I wanna hold tight
To all I know is right
So, I can be the one
Who’s shining your light
But if the scars I show
and the brokenness is all they see
I know God’s still workin’ on me
We all fight the same fights
While we’re praying through our crisis
Holding onto Jesus
As we wrestle with our vices
So much more than the stage
And the lights ya don’t see
Behind closed doors who I am
When I know it’s just me
But every night
I still surrender my yes
And by his grace he uses messes like me
He’s still mending all the shattered places
He’s still putting back together every piece
He’s still making something good of what I’ve wasted
He’s still working even when I don’t see
Thank God, He’s still working on me
Closing Thoughts
You'll join in worship with this powerful new song, lifting your heart and hands. The lyrics deeply resonate, offering comfort through biblical truth. Celebrate God's love joyfully and worship passionately—His grace removes anxiety, guilt, and shame. Remember, simply belonging to Him is enough. The heartfelt lyrics and singing reflect a genuine longing for the Lord.
Each day, we depend on faith to lead us. Walking by faith instead of sight helps us trust God more profoundly. The Bible states that with faith in Christ, we can achieve anything. It teaches us that we can accomplish anything through Christ by having faith. This truth can serve as a daily reminder not to be afraid. Look for ways to obey God and offer your trust in Him.
This is a great message and song to celebrate our freedom, grounded in our faith in Christ Jesus. The song has a very catchy, worshipful musical style, with holy energy and vitality pulsing through every word. We all need our great God to fix our messes and turn them into spiritual messages in some way. And the beauty of grace is that it is not something we deserve or can earn, but it is a free gift from God.
Jesus commands us to trust God's Word completely, no matter the circumstances. Our thoughts are constantly under attack by the enemy. In many areas of our lives, we spend a lot of time worrying and thinking we can be “perfect.” We need to let that go and let the Lord be our redeemer. God's Word assures us that we can trust what God says about us, no matter how we feel about ourselves. If you've put all your hope and trust in Jesus, there is nothing that can separate you from His love. God sees us as He sees His Son. He makes something out of nothing in each of us.
You'll be blessed by this powerful song with a convicting declaration: “Then this is my late night / Hard kinda heart cry / Praying God, I need you / Can You make it all right? / Don't wanna abuse the grace I needed before / Cause yesterday's gone and Lord, I'm still needing more / I wanna hold tight / To all I know is right / So, I can be the one / Who's shining your ight / But if the scars I show / and the brokenness is all they see / I know God's still workin' on me.” Amen to that.
