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by Graham Mol

The Heart of Worship by Matt Redman is one of those timeless classic worship songs that many of us love and sing today. The combination of sincere heartfelt words and the simple melody has spoken to so many believers, reminding them of what is actually important when it comes to worshipping the Lord. It is no wonder that such a song has a meaningful story behind it.

Back in the 1990s, Matt Redman’s home church, Soul Survivor, in Watford, England was experience a period of apathy. A musical worship revival was happening in the country and they were struggling to find meaning in their own music at the time.

“There was a dynamic missing, so the pastor did a pretty brave thing,” [Redman] recalls. “He decided to get rid of the sound system and band for a season, and we gathered together with just our voices. His point was that we’d lost our way in worship, and the way to get back to the heart would be to strip everything away.”

Reminding his church family to be producers in worship, not just consumers, the pastor, Mike Pilavachi, asked, “When you come through the doors on a Sunday, what are you bringing as your offering to God?”

(D. Schrader, Song Story: Matt Redman’s “The Heart of Worship”)

In grappling with an answer to this challenging question people broke into a cappella songs and prayers. They experienced the Lord in new way. This began a new journey of worship as they added back the other elements, not losing sight of the fact that worship is all about Jesus. Worship is our response to Him, who He is and His incredible love for us.

Matt Redman went to write a song about his experience of what had happened to their congregation. This song would become what we know today: The Heart of Worship.

Although it was never the intention, the song went on to be sung in thousands of churches as people connected with the simple truth of the words. It voiced what we all long for – to bring something that is of worth, more than a song itself but true heartfelt worship.

I have often found it helpful to sing The Heart of Worship reminding me of what is truly important when we come to worship the Lord. When all the extra stuff is stripped away, and we simply come before Jesus. It’s all about Him, that is the heart of worship.

God Bless
Graham

The Heart of Worship

When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that’s of worth
That will bless Your heart

I’ll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You’re looking into my heart

I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about You, it’s all about You, Jesus
I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it
When it’s all about You, it’s all about You, Jesus

King of endless worth
No one could express
How much you deserve
Though I’m weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Every single breath!

I’ll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You’re looking into my heart, yeah

I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about You, it’s all about You, Jesus
I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it
When it’s all about You, it’s all about You, Jesus
I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about You, it’s all about You, Jesus
I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it
When it’s all about You, it’s all about You, Jesus

This Post Has 2 Comments

  1. John Doyle

    So so blessed Ps. Graham. Thank you.

  2. Ian

    As you know Graham i appreciate what you’ve said here.. as in particular..
    “It’s all about Him, that is the heart of worship.”
    God bless you.. this song of Matt’s has always caught me and put me back into the place of worship I think we all long for.. 😊❤

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