Natalie Grant is a veteran of Christian music, consistently making waves over the past two decades with her powerhouse voice, worshipful heart and ability to adapt to a shifting musical climate-- an ability displayed on 2013's album Hurricane, which blended emotional ballads, exciting pop songs (including "Closer to Your Heart" and "Hurricane") and worshipful celebrations. Late last year Natalie followed it up with her new album Be One, a project focused on the idea that although we can pray for miracles, we can also be one by acting as the hands and feet of Jesus to those in need.

In conjunction with her new album, I posted an article listing my Top 5 Natalie Grant Worship Songs, highlighting a few of the moments displaying her heart. I had the chance to speak with Natalie about the title track from her new album, "Be One."

Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

The initial hook was brought to me and I helped finish writing the song. The first time I heard "why sit around and wait for a miracle to come when you can be one," I thought it was brilliant and I loved it. The song connects with my message as an artist and what I believe personally. For me, this song is a reminder as well. We live in a culture of entitlement, and I think that plays into our Christianity and this idea of what we need from God. We tend to view God almost like if we are on God's good list, He'll answer our prayers. 

For me, the message of finding a change in perspective in my walk with Christ is found on every song on this album. I can't always control my circumstances, but I can control my perspective. If instead of focusing on what God can do for me I focus on what He has already done, then it reminds me that He is kind, He is a Good Father, He is faithful, He has done so much and He knows what we need.

This song found its inspiration in 1 John 3:18 and Matthew 5:14. The song encourages us to "be the love of Jesus" to others. If you know Jesus, you have everything you need to make a difference. He's not looking for the spectacular. He's looking for the available. Instead of only praying for a miracle, we can be one. We can be a miracle because the power of God is working through us. And I believe that we just might find our own miracle in the middle of being one for somebody else.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

1 John 3:18 (VOICE): My little children, don't just talk about love as an idea or a theory. Make it your true way of life, and live in the pattern of gracious love.

Matthew 5:14 (VOICE): And you, beloved, are the light of the world. A city built on a hilltop cannot be hidden.

Matthew 6:31-34 (VOICE): So do not consume yourselves with questions: What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear? Outsiders make themselves frantic over such questions; they don't realize that your heavenly Father knows exactly what you need.  Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and then all these things will be given to you too. So do not worry about tomorrow. Let tomorrow worry about itself. Living faithfully is a large enough task for today.

Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message): "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with Me--watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

What is the takeaway message?

I don't know if it can be theologically proven, but I think that when we get our eyes and our focus off of our own needs, and get our eyes on other people's needs, it makes our own problems shrink. I'm not sure how that works, but it does. When I stop thinking of my own issues and problems, my needs and circumstances and how I've been wronged and forsaken, and I focus instead on someone other than myself, my problems don't go away, but they shrink.

I started thinking of the world at large. With all that's happening in our culture today, and things like what's happening with ISIS, it's easy to panic. The truth is, yes, we are living in very challenging times. Why are we so prone to panic? I know sometimes I just want to hide and put my head under my pillow, and a lot of people are saying that there's an increase in darkness in the world. I don't know about that. There's been darkness ever since the serpent entered the picture. I think you can look at many times in history, and there has always been darkness. But the biggest problem is not the presence of darkness but the absence of light. There's been an absence of true light. In Matthew 5, Jesus says that we are the light of the world, and as times get darker, we need to shine our light brighter. 

I hope this song encourages Christians to be the light of the world that we are called to be. The song is a call to action, and every other song points to the message of "King of the World," and how rather than being self-absorbed in our sinful natures, we need to remember that Jesus is the King of the world and to live in gracious love. Some people think they need to be all things to all people. I'm saying put down your signs of what you are against, which makes Christianity less attractive in our culture because nobody is attracted to anger. It is possible to love and have standards, and remember that Jesus loved people but He never left them in their sin. They were always changed, transformed, renewed and made clean. The idea of "Be One" is to live out the standards of Scripture in a way that people are attracted to the message of the Gospel. We need a call to righteous living, and it is imperative to learn how to live a life of love and share the Gospel. That brings about life change.

Lyrics:
We don't feel ready, we don't feel steady
Question what we really have to give

Stay where it's safer, claim faith but waiver
Is this how we're really meant to live

We pray but never move
We say but never do

It's time to get our hands dirty
Oh oh, oh oh
Be love - there's a whole lot of hurting
Oh oh, oh oh
Calling all hearts, Calling all hands
Calling all feet to take a stand
Why sit around and wait for a miracle to come
When we can be one, When we can be one , When we can be one

A little somethin' might feel like nothin'
But in His hands it's all we'll ever need

To speak life to the broken
Watch the blind eyes open
It's who He's calling you and me to be

We can be the change - be the hope
We can be the arms that don't let go
We can be a light in the dark
We are we are where it starts

We can be the light in the dark
We can be the arms that don't let go

I recently had the opportunity to attend a Dare to Be Conference in Bensalem, PA as a father-daughter outing, and we were very blessed by hearing inspiring messages from Charlotte Gambill and singing with Natalie Grant. "Dare to Be: A Cinema Event" will be coming to select movie theaters one day only through Fathom Events on Wednesday, March 16, at 11 a.m. local time. You can get tickets for the event at http://www.fathomevents.com/event/dare-to-be.

I'm captivated by how Natalie's songs move me emotionally and connect me spiritually to the truth behind the songs. Her vocals will soothe your soul, and the lyrics will direct your attention to Jesus, who defeated death and His Spirit lives in us as believers. There are transparent and vulnerable lyrics found throughout this very compelling album. Musically and lyrically, I am captivated by the hook-filled and honest nature of these songs on Be One.

We all need to "learn the unforced rhythms of grace." That is Jesus's heart for us. He does not want us to worry. He tells us "His yoke is easy and His burden is light." We all deal with some level of fear, worry and anxiety. God knows that about us, and after I read that He tells us to not have fear or worry in His Word 365 times, enough for one time each day, I have been attentive to that concept in my daily Bible study.

I have found that by being washed by the water of the Word, I am strengthened with the Truth that God wants us to know that fear, worry and being anxious is not His plan for our lives. By reading the Bible every day, God wants us to have a daily reminder not to be afraid. Joyfully sing with Natalie: "We can be the change, be the hope. We can be the arms that don't let go, we can be a light in the dark." Matthew 5:14 tells us: "You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept." This song inspires us to live out the words, "Why sit around and wait for a miracle to come, when we can be one." Amen to that!

Watch the lyric video: