Stand is the newest full-length album by Natasha Owens. Her album's songs are based on her personal experience of her father's sudden and tragic passing and reliance on God to process her life situation. Her songs are about overcoming and empowerment through our faith in Christ.
I've previously spoken with Natasha about her stirring songs, "We Will Rise" and "I Am Loved" for behind-the-song devotionals. In connection with her new album, I had the chance to speak with Natasha about her new single, "Lion."
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.
I have a picture on my phone with a baby lion cub and a daddy lion standing behind him. The caption reads, "If the Devil knew who my daddy was, he wouldn't mess with me." I love that picture and it gave me the inspiration to write this song. I was raised in the church and I've heard Jesus described as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, and I started studying about that. We often picture Jesus as a Lamb and how He is very gentle, and that's true. There's another picture of God that He is a Lion, and He's a conqueror and He will go in front of you and protect you and help you fight your battles.
This song has driven me by the truth that our King is bold, fearless, and courageous. Revelation 5:5 refers to Jesus as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah who prevails. Instantly, I was then reminded of Proverbs 28:1 that promises us that the righteous are as bold as a lion. What a declaration. He is our defender and has given us the strength to stand in boldness without fear. This is our battle cry. We are the baby cubs, and Jesus is our daddy Lion standing behind us.
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
Hosea 11:10 (NIV): "They will follow the LORD; He will roar like a lion. When He roars, His children will come trembling from the west."
John 1:29 (NKJV): "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" John 15:13 (NKJV): "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends."
Philippians 2:10-11 (NIV): "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Psalm 3:1-2 (NIV): "LORD, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, 'God will not deliver him.'"
Proverbs 28:1 (NIV): "The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion."
Revelation 5:11-13 (NIV): "Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying: 'Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!' Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: 'To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!'"
2 Chronicles 20:17 (NIV): "You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah, and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.'"
2 Chronicles 32:7 (NKJV): "Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him."
What is the takeaway message?
Through the last year or so, there has been a lot of chaos going on in our world. It's incredibly easy to look around us and instantly become anxious and fearful at all that we see. But there is a hope that I have found that is stronger than the enemy that tries to intimidate us; His name is Jesus. We see so many instances when you study the nature of God that He is the Great I Am. He is everything we need. We are in spiritual warfare and on the front lines. We are battle worn. Seeing the imagery from the Bible of our Mighty Lion standing there and protecting His people. My last album was "Warrior." Everything for me these days is about suiting up for battle. Lions are also gentle, especially with their cubs. You wouldn't think a fierce and majestic beast would also be so kind, but that's our God. I was reading a Scripture in Isaiah about taking a stand. As a church, we often are known for turning the other cheek. Jesus had righteous indignation when He saw injustice. We are also called to stand up against injustice. We haven't stood up for our values. We need to take a stand for what we believe in.
Lyrics:
There's a lion
Who won't be tamed
He will never leave the one
He's fighting for
There is power In His name
All creation trembles at His mighty roar
His mighty roar
Hallelujah
The Lion of Judah
His love is strong to save
He conquers every grave
Hallelujah
The Lion of Judah
He is alive in us
We are victorious
He's our rescue
Our only hope
He has promised
He will never leave our side
Every fear
And every foe
Will shake and tremble at our battle cry Our battle cry
King of kings forever Lord of lords, defender
Closing Thoughts
This bold and powerful anthem takes the chaos of the past year head-on, reminding us to move forward no matter how insurmountable one's surrounding circumstances may seem. The message of this song challenges listeners to think about our own doubts and how Jesus calls us to rely on Him and the power of His resurrection and to remember that He has overcome death and fear. No matter where you are in your walk with Jesus, this song is a salvation message that helps us remember that Jesus truly came to die and rose to set us free.
As Christians, we are called to be bold and walk like lions for Christ and to serve Him daily. We can't find true courage in our own strength; we need to trust in Jesus. It's time for Christians to show true strength and courage by igniting the passion that we have inside of us by the power of the Holy Spirit. The song represents life and includes some great challenges to step out in faith and trust in God even when you want to give up or can't see where you're going. We aren't the source of the power to overcome our challenges. God is our greater power source that brings true power. In our weakness, God's strength is perfect!
This song represents the victory that we have over our battles before we even know the earthly outcome by trusting that God is going before us and He wins. As believers in Christ, we know our eternal outcomes and that we are going to live on forever. We can face our daily battles with more courage and strength because we know that whatever the outcome, based on His promise in Romans 8:28 "God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."
Being a Christian means that we walk by faith, not by sight. Faith requires people to rely on the unseen. We all walk by faith every day. The beauty of walking by faith and not by sight is that we can learn to trust God more fully with our lives. His love is never-ending, and He is our refuge and our strength. If you are looking for a firm foundation in your life, make these lyrics your personal prayer: "He's our rescue/Our only hope/He has promised/He will never leave our side/Every fear and every foe/Will shake and tremble at our battle cry." Amen to that.
NRT lead contributor Kevin Davis is a long-time fan of Christian music, an avid music collector, and credits the message of Christian music for leading him to Christ. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and three daughters.
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