Have you ever listened to a song that completely changed your mood?
Perhaps you were having a rough day when a particular song came on the radio, like a burst of sunlight through the cloudiness in your heart. Maybe you felt overwhelmed when you heard a version of the hymn "It is Well with My Soul."
I once listened to a song twenty times in a row and cried for nearly an hour because I felt unworthy of God's love and His faithfulness to me. Now, this is not an everyday occurrence, but the song perfectly articulated my feelings. It gave me words to express the emotions flowing out of me.
This kind of impact is the power of music, and it's the reason why Air1 exists. Recently, in a candid video promoting the launch of his song, "Thank You, Jesus," Josh Baldwin shared his hope and prayer for this new release.
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"I hope it shifts the atmosphere in your car, in your home, in your church - wherever you're singing it, wherever you're listening to it."
Baldwin's hope is well-founded because when we practice gratitude and worship, we reorient our focus and align our point of view with God's. These practices don't change our current circumstances but can profoundly change how we perceive them.
With a foundation in several key Scriptures, "Thank You, Jesus" points us to God's work and why we love God.
For example, the chorus declares, "Oh, it's only because of all You've done - That I can be called a friend of God." When we take God at His word and believe He is who He says He is, we enter into friendship with Him just as Abraham did. In James 2:23, we read, "And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: 'Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.' He was even called the friend of God."
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In his promotional video, Baldwin notes. "Thank you. Jesus is very special to me. I wanted a song that was simple that talked about why I love the Lord…. It talks about how we enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise… It's just simply Scripture and each verse was just another verse from the Bible."
As Baldwin notes, the bridge quotes a famous section of Psalm 100, where the writer declared, "Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name."
In walking listeners through each section of the song, Baldwin noted, "I'm reminded of, of the shepherd who left the 99 sheep to go after the one. That's who I am. That's who you are. Jesus, for saving me." Baldwin here references the Parable of the Lost Sheep, told in Luke 15. In one of the seven "I am" statements that Jesus famously makes in the Gospel of John, he clarifies that he was the shepherd referenced in the Luke 15 parable. John 10 includes Jesus's declaration, "I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep."
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After revisiting the verses and passages that inspired the song, Baldwin reflects on his love for this simple song. "I love leading it. I don't think I'll ever get tired of singing it because it's such a good reminder of who the Lord is. I have so many reasons to be thankful. So many reasons to be grateful. I have so many reasons to worship, and I hope it blesses you."
I've repeatedly listened to this song, and I agree with Baldwin. Sometimes, we need simple reminders of the fundamental truths. English writer Samuel Johnson famously observed, "People need to be reminded more than they need to be instructed." We are prone to forget what is most important. We need songs that trigger our memories and provoke us to remember God's goodness and grace towards us.
When the atmosphere of your life or your mind is clouded, fearful, or oppressive, playing Josh Baldwin's "Thank You Jesus" could be a great response. Baldwin sought to create an atmosphere-adjusting song, and my experience is that he accomplished His goal. Wherever you listen to and sing this song, it can restore what you've lost and recall what you've forgotten.
Scott Savage is a pastor, author, and speaker with the best last name in the world. Scott’s writing helps people transform difficult circumstances into places where they can thrive. He leads Cornerstone Church in Prescott, Arizona, and loves watching movies with his wife and three kids. You can begin Scott’s newest project, The 21 Day Gratitude Challenge, today.
