Danny Gokey is a critically acclaimed singer, songwriter, and storyteller with chart-topping hits "Hope in Front of Me," "Tell Your Heart to Beat Again," "If You Ain't In It," "Wanted," "Love God Love People," and "Haven't Seen it Yet." Now with Jesus People, Gokey opens his heart more than ever. His new songs ultimately spread the message that even in trials, and what the world considers failure, to remember that God's promises never fail.
Waiting on the Lord has been a theme in all of Danny's albums. His faithfulness and commitment to writing and singing songs based on his personal experiences make him one of the most relatable artists I've ever heard. These songs are a welcome companion in my quiet times of reflection and prayer. Gokey's poignant songwriting is coupled with his vulnerability as each song urges me to pray more along with him. This album is sure to connect with all listeners who like sincere and catchy songs filled with truth and yearning for God, including the standout songs, "He Believes in You," "We All Need Jesus," and "Stand in Faith."
My wife and I watched the American Idol season featuring Danny, and we immediately connected to his story. We could see that the only way he could get through that ordeal after losing his first wife was to have hope in God to reveal His plans. His new single, "Live Up to Your Name" is connecting with listeners for the same reason. I had the chance to speak with Danny in person before his concert appearance in Burlington, New Jersey about "Live Up to Your Name."
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.
"Live Up to Your Name" is a unique title for the song, because it's not a typical worship statement. A typical worship statement is we love You, we adore You, and there's no one like You. We are starting a case in this song, and there are multiple examples of how we say it in the song, that there are records of Your goodness, and there are the Dead Sea Scrolls as an example. With endless stories of the wonders of the Wonder Worker, God has fame that has lasted throughout the generations. It's not like God is trying to be famous. He could reveal Himself to the whole world right now if He wanted to. You must pay attention to what He is saying to you in the Spirit. The song says, "You Live Up to Your Name." What are His names? Jireh, Jehovah, Abba, Yahweh, Healer, Protector, Redeemer, Promise Keeper, Jesus. Lion and the Lamb, Great I Am. The song is such a faith statement about how God always lives up to His name.
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
Hebrews 11:1 (NLT): "Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see."
Psalm 46:1 (NIV): "The Lord is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble."
Psalm 145:13 (NIV): "The Lord is trustworthy in all He promises and faithful in all He does."
Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV): "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."
Philippians 4:7 (NKJV): "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Romans 8:28 (NIV): "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."
Psalm 9:10 (NKJV): "And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You."
What is the takeaway message?
When you listen to the song, I think you'll hear yourself in God's story and who He is. You may have seen Him as a Way Maker. You may have seen Him as a Protector when you avoided a car accident. Wherever people find themselves, you'll see God's faithfulness and how He always comes through when you need Him. I pray you are encouraged by this reminder to focus on all of God's unchanging attributes, He is so worthy of our worship. This is a reminder song. When the Israelites failed the most when they forgot about God's faithfulness. He always lives up to His name. Be encouraged and don't forget that!
Lyrics:
There are records of Your goodness
Spread across the earth
Endless stories of the wonders
Of the Wonder Worker
You are worthy of Your fame
Testimonies from the broken
Show You still heal wounds
And we named You the Way Maker
Cause You made a way through
You are worthy of Your fame
We know, we know, we know, we know, we know, we know
We know, we know, we know, we know, we know, we know
That You live up to Your name
You live up to Your name
Promise Keeper, Our Redeemer
You proved it when You rose up from the grave
Lord, You live up to Your name
All we've seen from You is kindness
It's just who You are
And we know You are the Savior
By Your stripes and scars
You're the Lion and the Lamb
Abba Father, Great I Am
You live up to Your name
You live up to Your name
You're the Promise Keeper, You're our Redeemer
You proved it when You rose up from the grave
Lord, You live up to Your name
We know, we know, we know, we know, we know, we know
We know, we know, we know, we know, we know, we know
We call You Provider
Call You Protector
There's no doubt we've seen it
That's Your name for a reason
We call You Abba
We call You Jireh
There's no doubt we've seen it
No higher name than Jesus
We call you Yahweh
Jehovah the Healer
There's no doubt we've seen it
That's Your name for a reason
We call You Faithful
Messiah the Savior
There's no doubt we've seen it
No higher name than Jesus
No higher name than Jesus
You live up to Your name
You live up to Your name
You're the Promise Keeper, You're our Redeemer
You proved it when You rose up from the grave
Lord, You live up to Your name
Lord, You live up to Your name
Closing Thoughts
Musically, this song has a hopeful feel to it. Hope is the key, and we have a blessed hope if we've put all our faith and hope in Jesus. We also know from God's Word that we will go through trials. Those moments are meant to remind us to not trust in ourselves but to trust in Him. This song strikes me in a deep and convicting way with the truth of how God calls all of us to "walk by faith, and not by sight." Like Danny, I'm clinging to The Bible's promise: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28, NIV)."
As followers of Jesus, we know that we can trust God's Word. We're all a work in progress. So, have faith and let God work all things together for good. Spend time with God and let Him redeem and restore you. We're not at the end of our story. God's still writing our stories of redemption. God wants us to know that He's faithful to complete what He's started in all of us who've put our hope and trust in Jesus for our salvation. Here's what Charles Spurgeon, an English Baptist preacher, says about Romans 8:28: "Upon some points, a believer is absolutely sure. He knows too that God is always wise, and knowing this, he is confident that there can be no accidents, no mistakes; that nothing can occur which ought not to arise. He can say, 'If I should lose all I have, it is better that I should lose than have if God so wills: the worst calamity is the wisest and the kindest thing that could befall to me if God ordains it.' We know that all things work together for the good of them that love God. The Christian does not merely hold this as a theory, but he knows it as a matter of fact." Many of my favorite songs are based on the joy and themes of trusting in God from the Psalms and Proverbs. So many people struggle to apply God's Word to their lives. If we learn to build our lives on scripture, we would all have a rock as our foundation, in how we navigate our lives. The Good News of the Gospel, which this song perfectly portrays, is that God accepts us no matter what we've done or what we are going through. "Live Up to Your Name" gives me more conviction to not feel worthless or afraid. With many areas in our lives, we spend a lot of time worrying. We need to let that go and let the Lord be our Redeemer. This song reminds me that we need to have that type of faith that Jesus describes in the Bible: "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
Being a Christian means that you walk by faith, not by sight. Remember the definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1: "Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." This song encourages me to have more faith and exclaim, "You live up to Your name/You live up to Your name/You're the Promise Keeper, You're our Redeemer/You proved it when You rose up from the grave/Lord, You live up to Your name." Amen to that.
NRT lead contributor Kevin Davis is a longtime fan of Christian music, and an avid music collector. He credits the message of Christian music for leading him to Christ. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and three daughters.
NEW!BEHIND THE SONG
#1236 - Brandon Heath
Transforming wounds into stories of redemption in this powerful song
ADVERTISEMENT
NEW!NRT EDITORIAL
Skillet
We explores some of the band's best songs outside their hits
NEW!NRT LISTS
Jordan Merritt
A real conversation around the artist's new track, "Human"
NEW!HEARTSPEAK
Jordan Feliz
The artist's must-listen-to songs about faith, family, and redemption
NEW!AN NRT EXCLUSIVE
Rock Meets Worship
Seven gritty cover songs of popular worship music and hymns
