A Worshipful Masterpiece
Posted April 10, 2015
By KevinDavis_NRT, Staff Reviewer
This debut full-length album How Can it Be has been preceded by Lauren Daigle's worshipful and powerful title track which has resonated with me since I first heard the song. The song is an excellent depiction of the sacrifice and unmerited grace of our Advocate and Redeemer, and it serves as a gorgeous offering to our Savior Jesus. What's especially cool about this album is how Lauren Daigle invites listeners into her life by sharing what's on her heart and worshiping God with every single note.
"First" beautifully sets the tone for this masterpiece with Lauren's signature powerful and emotive singing style. You'll be raising your heart and hands in worship along with the song. This can be gorgeous background music, but don't miss out on what Lauren has to say as well. I can't get enough of the Matthew 6:33 inspired lyrics: "Before I lift my cares, I will lift my arms, I want to know You, I want to find You in every moment, Before I bring my need, I will bring my heart and seek You first."
"How Can it Be" has quickly become one of my personal worship anthems, and I hear in her stellar vocals a sincere yearning for Jesus and thankfulness in her heart for God's mercy and grace. This is one of the best worship songs I've ever heard. I'm completely convicted by the strong lyrics and find immense comfort in this song filled with biblical truth. Lauren's tender vocals take you on an emotional journey that gives me goose bumps every time I hear this song. I am especially comforted by the truth of the lyrics: "You gave Your life, to give me mine, You say that I am free, how can it be?"
The message behind this song is the story of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Though we are all guilty and deserve judgment, like the woman caught in adultery we need to know this truth: "I've been hiding, afraid I've let You down, inside I doubt, That You could love me, But in Your eyes there's only grace now." If you've been holding on to guilt and shame, the truth of this song portrays the heart of our Advocate, Jesus, who stands before God.
Settle in and really allow yourself to experience these songs, especially the next song "Trust in You." The song compels me to worship God and profess my own appreciation for sitting at the feet of Jesus and trusting in Him completely. It connects to Proverbs 3 and is such a joyful and hopeful prayer.
The idea of finding our peace, joy and identity in Christ is beautifully captured in "Loyal." The song compels me to worship and profess my own appreciation for the pure love of Jesus. You'll join in with Lauren as she profoundly sings, "More faithful than the rising sun, this grace for me, I can't outrun-- Your love is Loyal." The song is a gorgeous profession of Lauren's sincere desire to lift up Jesus in every song.
You can't help but pray and sing along with Lauren. "My Revival," "Power to Redeem" and "Here's My Heart" are all in the same style declaring personal responses to biblical truths in each song.
"O Lord" features another worshipful refrain and Lauren's strong vocal delivery. When Lauren passionately sings the song, I hear in her voice a prayer of gratitude and commitment to lift God's Name high and give her gifts back to Him. The song has an urgent musical feel, and Lauren once again isn't performing the song; she is lifting the worshipful and heartfelt words back to our Savior.
That idea of finding our peace, joy and identity in Christ is beautifully captured in "I Am Yours," which is a statement of trust and dependence on God in the midst of trials. Lauren declares, "So I rest in Your promises, I'm sure of this, I'm Yours, Let the waters rise, I will stand as the oceans roar, let the earth shake beneath me, let the mountains fall, You are God over the storm and I am Yours."
Her powerful vocals lift this song to its highest point in the bridge: "Even the thunder and the wind obey, at the command of my Father, I set my feet upon Your mighty Name, so let the rain fall harder, So take my everything my flesh and blood, I lay me down at the altar, I am forever covered in Your love, so let the rain fall." The song is a gorgeous profession of Lauren's sincere desire to serve God, and it is my favorite track on this incredible album.
Lauren's stellar vocals in "Come Alive (Dry Bones)" take you on an emotional journey and I am especially comforted by the truth of the lyrics: "Oh God of endless mercy, God of unrelenting love, Rescue every daughter, Bring us back the wayward son, By Your spirit breathe upon them, show that You alone can save."
The song also reflects the conviction and strength we can all have as God's army of dry bones who are filled with God's breath, and then we can breathe out as prophesied in Ezekiel 37. We live in a fallen and sinful world. One day we will have a new heaven and a new earth and until then we need to all pray: "We call out to dry bones... come alive. Come up out of the ashes, Let us see an army rise, we call out to dry bones come alive."
The album closes with the worshipful songs "Salt and Light" and "Once and For All." They feature Lauren's vocal sincerity and prayerful offerings of comfort in the lyrics.
Closing Thoughts:
Every song will have you hanging on each word that Lauren tenderly sings. Her vocals will soothe your soul, and the vertical lyrics will direct your attention and focus on Jesus. This is a completely worshipful album. There are several personal songs that melt my heart. Lauren has blessed listeners by writing and singing such piercing and moving songs. This is a completely worshipful album, in the style of recent studio albums by Kim Walker-Smith, Laura Hackett Park and Misty Edwards. Don't miss these offerings of Spirit-led praise and worship directly to our King and Savior, Jesus.
Lauren writes and sings songs with an amazing passion and with unashamed praise and gratitude to our Savior that is very inspiring and emotionally moving. The eternal Love of Jesus is beautifully expressed in these compelling songs that seep into your heart, soul and mind. This album soothes, moves and challenges listeners. Don't miss this profound worship experience. How Can it Be is a masterpiece with compelling music and lyrics and stellar singing and it is my worship album of the year.
Song to Download Now:
"First" (Get it on iTunes here.)
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