If you're familiar with TikTok, you may have come across the music of the rising contemporary Christian artist Katy Nichole. She rose to fame after posting a snippet of her debut song, "In Jesus’ Name (God of Possible)" on the platform.
The song went viral and struck a chord with audiences worldwide, who were looking for healing and restoration. Katy’s goal was to share her unwavering belief in God’s ability to heal and the power of prayer.
Katy fleshed out the snippet into a full song and released it to the radio. The song topped both Billboard radio and iTunes music charts. The single led to her first release, the Katy Nichole EP, and now her upcoming full-length album, Jesus Changed My Life. I spoke with Katy about the title track, "Jesus Changed My Life," from the new record.
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.
I was born with scoliosis, but it was not diagnosed until I was five. I remember it getting worse and the fear of knowing it was getting worse, and the possibility of needing major surgery on my back. In 2015, I had the surgery, but it did not go as planned. I came out of the surgery in a lot of pain.
I was not bedridden, but I was in a position where I was stuck because of the pain and this frustration led to depression. It felt like a smoke cloud consumed my life. I knew God was there, but I could not see him. I felt trapped in my body like I was a person looking down on the shell of me.
I came out of the surgery and saw the light again for the first time. The smoke cloud had parted, and I knew Jesus was in the room. He had a purpose in my life; I knew that. During that hard season, I wrote a song. I was praying for Jesus to change my life, to give me the strength to pursue him.
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV): "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight."
Psalm 37:4-5(NIV): “Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and he will do this.”
1 Peter 3:15(NIV): "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have."
Psalm 33:20-22(MSG): “We’re depending on God; He’s everything we need. What’s more, our hearts brim with joy since we’ve taken for our own His holy name. Love us, God, with all you’ve got—that’s what we’re depending on.”
Romans 8:28(VOICE): "We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan."
John 15:4-5(VOICE): "Abide in Me, and I will abide in you. A branch cannot bear fruit if it is disconnected from the vine, and neither will you if you are not connected to Me. I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you abide in Me and I in you, you will bear great fruit. Without Me, you will accomplish nothing."
Ephesians 3:20-21(NKJV): "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
Mark 16:15-16(NKJV): "And He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned.'"
Revelation 12:11(NKJV): “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”
What is the takeaway message?
I’ve chased the wrong things that will never satisfy me. Trying to satisfy yourself with worldly things instead of Jesus doesn’t work. Jesus can change your life. He’s so amazing in that way. He has grace and mercy; unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.
I’m not just pursuing Him personally, but I want people to know who He is and who He can be for them. The living hope of Jesus is so incredible.
Jesus lives within me, and I live every day striving to be more like Christ. I fear I fall short every single day that I live. But I will never stop striving. Never stop reaching toward that. I mean, He would create me. He would love me. He would have so much mercy and grace for me. Who am I to put a limit on what he can do?
Jesus is constantly refining my heart. Like a lot of the cries that are in the Psalms, when I find myself in a place of struggle, I turn back to Him. If Jesus could change my life, then, He can change my life now.
Lyrics
I spent my time running to all the wrong places I thought that I would be the last one that You'd ever want to see I was so far gone, the kind they give up on But You are not the kind of God to ever give up on me Oh, Your kindness led me home Oh-oh
Grace came calling my name Lifted my soul up out of that grave Was Hell bound, lost, and then found Look what You've done, You've turned it all around And I can testify, I'm not the same Like lightning from the sky, Jesus changed my life
You wouldn't let go, You wouldn't leave me Followed me through darkness and chased me down with mercy You wouldn't look back, You see beyond my past There is nothing I have ever done to make You love me less
Grace came calling my name Lifted my soul up out of that grave Was Hell bound, lost, and then found Look what You've done, You've turned it all around And I can testify, I'm not the same Like lightning from the sky, Jesus changed my life Yeah, Jesus changed my life
Thank You for loving me Thank You for setting me free Thank You for taking these chains off of me Thank You that I'm not who I used to be Thank You for loving me Thank You for setting me free Thank You for taking these chains off of me Thank You that I'm not who I used to be, yeah
Grace came calling my name Lifted my soul up out of that grave Was Hell bound, lost, and then found Look what You've done, You've turned it all around And I can testify, I'm not the same Like lightning from the sky, Jesus changed my life Oh, Jesus changed my life Yeah, Jesus changed my life
Closing Thoughts
My salvation story connects perfectly with "Jesus Changed My Life,” as it’s based on the 1st Corinthians 9:22 Bible verse: "To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some." The "irrefutable argument" I have as a believer is to share my story of grace.
This song celebrates the day that I was saved from my sins, causing me to reflect on and celebrate my salvation experience. This song is about our Savior, Jesus, who overcame the grave.
My testimony is that the biblical messages behind the songs I heard on the debut album by Jars of Clay prompted me to seek out the biblical connection to the words of songs like "Liquid," "Love Song for a Savior," and "Worlds Apart." That led me to dive deeper into God's Word for the first time in my mid-twenties, having grown up with more of a works-based faith and not relying on Jesus alone for my salvation.
The transformation process included listening to every type of Christian music, and I got saved in 1999 when I said the sinner's prayer after listening to an artist's testimony at the end of a Christian album where the artist invited me to join him, for which I'm eternally grateful.
It is my prayer that my "behind the song" devotionals will encourage readers and be an influence on peoples' individual walks with Christ, or maybe to even lead people to Christ if they haven't made the decision yet. We can't earn heaven; it's only through complete surrender to Jesus and putting all our hope in Him that can we be saved.
Part of being that new person is knowing that you’re a new creation on the inside. This song celebrates the freedom we’re promised in God's Holy Word in 2 Corinthians 5:17: "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."
God’s Holy Spirit indwells in you when you give your life to Christ. This is a great song to sing to our Lord and Savior as a personal prayer of thanks and praise. It’ll encourage you to see yourself the way God sees you. What a great message of redemption: grace is unmerited favor, and it is a gift. When you abide in His grace, you won't be the same. Being His is enough.
When you give your life to Christ, God's Holy Spirit indwells in you. Singing a song of thanks and praise to our Lord and Savior, like Katy Nichole’s song, can encourage you to see yourself the way God sees you. The message of redemption is that grace, unmerited favor, is a gift. Abiding in His grace transforms you and being His is enough.
This song has become my anthem, and I sing along at the top of my lungs to the sincere and emotive lyrics of submission: “You wouldn't let go, You wouldn't leave me/Followed me through darkness and chased me down with mercy/You wouldn't look back, You see beyond my past/There is nothing I have ever done to make You love me less.”
I’m grateful for the reminder that God's love for me is unconditional and that He accepts me just as I am. I am also reminded that through His grace, I’m a new creation and have been set free from my past mistakes and negative thoughts. I will continue to sing this song as a personal prayer of thanks and praise to my Lord and Savior. 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.
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