Emerging Christian pop artist Leanna Crawford is an artist to watch. Captured by her sound, GRAMMY Nominated and Dove Award winner Matthew West began working with her in an artist development capacity, and she released her self-titled EP. The album includes hit songs "Truth I'm Standing On,""Photoshop," and "Mean Girls," all of which I've featured in my Behind The Song devotional series.
I've been married for 30 years and we have three young daughters. Leanna's entire catalog really ministers to me and my family. Leanna has the gift of encouragement, and every single song lifts me up. She has an infectious and upbeat musical style, layering her strong and distinguished vocals over the top of one hooky melody after another.
Leanna has emerged as one of the top new female vocalists in Christian music, and she's a great role model for girls. She has delivered the ideal album to minister to anyone struggling with fear and self-doubt. Every song is a great showcase of Leanna's excellent singing voice, and you can practically hear her smile as she delivers one infectious song after another. The layered and well-produced musical arrangements on this album perfectly accentuate Leanna's powerful and passionate songs.
With comparisons to contemporaries ranging from Colbie Caillat to Britt Nicole, Crawford exhibits the passion and confidence of a seasoned artist. Her songwriting is real, positive, and vulnerable, and her upbeat songs are a great way to celebrate our freedom in Christ. Leanna's songs have connected with my daughters and her biblically inspired lyrics represent how true happiness and her identity come from her relationship with God. I had the chance to speak with Leanna about her song "Still Waters (Psalm 23)."
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.
"Still Waters" holds special meaning as a tribute to my great aunt Maurine whose steadfast faith profoundly impacted my family across generations. "Still Waters (Psalm 23)" is an incredibly special song to me because it's in honor of the woman who led my mom to Christ, my 103-year-old great aunt Maurine. When she was in her 40's she learned she was going blind, so she decided to memorize the entire Bible before her sight left her.
I only got to meet her once but it changed my life forever in how I view God's Word--how the Bible is living and there is a scripture for every joyful, painful, or in-between moment in our lives.
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
Psalm 23:4 (VOICE): "Even in the unending shadows of death's darkness, I am not overcome by fear. Because You are with me in those dark moments, near with Your protection and guidance, I am comforted."
Psalm 23 (NKJV): "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."
Psalm 46:10 (NKJV): "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"
Romans 12:2 (VOICE): "Do not allow this world to mold you in its own image. Instead, be transformed from the inside out by renewing your mind. As a result, you will be able to discern what God wills and whatever God finds good, pleasing, and complete."
Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV): "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts."
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."
Philippians 1:21 (NIV): "For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."
Acts 4:12 (NKJV): "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
What is the takeaway message?
This album reflects my personal journey and the peace that comes from trusting in God's plan. My hope is that these songs bring comfort and encouragement to everyone who listens. This record is full of songs pointing back to that reshaping--songs about finding my first love in Jesus and coming back to the simplicity of grace and beauty of it.
As an artist, I want to write about where God is leading me. Sometimes, a song is just for me, and sometimes, it allows me to live in a bigger light. I'm trying to get to a place where I'm less worried about the big, catchy melody and more about how the song's message speaks to my heart.
Lyrics
Great aunt Maurine said at a hundred and three
Write scripture on your heart for when you need it
Cause anxiety hates Psalm 23
So just say it to yourself 'til you believe it
And I'm feeling like I'm needing it right now
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want
He leads me by still waters 'til my fears are gone
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
O I know You are with me
My father, my friend
Your goodness and mercy will follow me all of my days
I know by Your still waters I'm safe
Lord, I believe You can set me at ease
Turn this broken piece in me to peace and quiet
I know there's power in Your word
So I'll say it over and over til my soul's reminded
Oh The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want
He leads me by still waters 'til my fears are gone
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
O I know You are with me
My Father, my friend
Your goodness and mercy will follow me all of my days
I know by Your still waters I'm safe
Still waters run through
Any valley I could find
I'm laying fear down
Here at Heaven's riverside
Your word has been true
In every season of my life
I believe, yes I believe
Still waters run through
Any valley I could find
I'm laying fear down
Here at Heaven's riverside
Your word has been true
In every season of my life
I believe, yes I believe
Oh the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want
He leads me by still waters 'til my fears are gone
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
O I know You are with me
My Father, my friend
Your goodness and mercy will follow me all of my days
I know by Your still waters I'm safe
Closing Thoughts
Daily we are presented with the choices of how to use our time, lifestyle choices, pursuit of riches, living for today not knowing what tomorrow has in store for us, and questioning our loneliness and looking for meaning. God speaks to us in different ways, and I find myself closest to Him in my times of prayer and reflection, especially with songs of praise and adoration like "Still Waters (Psalm 23)."
King David was a shepherd, and he knew that the Lord was his only guide and hope, the good shepherd of his soul, in writing Psalm 23. This song is about submitting to God all your worries, anxieties, and stress. It's about letting God be your guide. He wants to walk beside you. And He wants you to be bold and unafraid.
"Still Waters (Psalm 23)" is a daily prayer, asking God to come and change our hearts and lives. Change in such a way that our behavior and our lifestyle flow from God, living inside His believers. Only Jesus can give us our identity. What a powerful expression of what it means to accept that God never leaves or forsakes us.
This song gives me more conviction to not feel worthless or afraid. In many areas of my life, I spend a lot of time worrying. I need to let that go and let the Lord be my redeemer. I have found that by being washed by the water of the Word, I'm strengthened with the truth that fear, worry, and anxiety are not God's plan for our lives.
As followers of Jesus, we know we can trust God's Word. I realize that Jesus commands us to trust God's Word completely, no matter our circumstances.
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're going through.
God sees us as He sees His Son. He makes something out of nothing in each of us. That's a reason to sing this song at the top of your lungs in gratefulness to Him: "Oh the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want/He leads me by still waters 'til my fears are gone/Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death/O I know You are with me/My Father, my friend/Your goodness and mercy will follow me all of my days/I know by Your still waters I'm safe." Amen to that.
NRT lead contributor Kevin Davis is a long-time Christian music fan and an avid 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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