Elevation Worship – Give Me Faith

Christian rock band Elevation Worship became acting in 2007, gaining market share and prominence over the years.  Much like Hillsong, Bethel, and Jesus Culture, they are a band that rose out of church ministry.  They released 19 albums and 8 EP’s, including Here as in Heaven (2016), There Is a Cloud (2017), and Graves into Gardens (2020).

Also, check out my other sixteen Elevation Worship reviews. 

Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site!  Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review.  I strongly encourage you to consider the potential blessings and dangers of this artist‘s theology by visiting Resources.

1. What message does the song communicate?

Elevation Worship requests of God that their hearts would melt, evidence that God is working in their lives, His light to drive out the darkness within them, and for spiritual cleansing.  Recognizing their depravity and surrendered to God, they pray for faith to trust in His goodness and love, strengthened by the Holy Spirit residing within them.

Score: 10/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

All if it lines up with Scripture.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Verse 1]

I need You to soften my heart
And break me apart

Elevation Worship requests of God their stony heart to become flesh (Ezekiel 11:19, Ezekiel 36:26, Jeremiah 31:33, and Hebrews 8:10).

I need You to open my eyes
And see that You’re shaping my life

Elevation Worship also asks God to open their spiritual eyes, that they may remember the hope that is within them (Ephesians 1:18), that they are God’s clay to mold (Isaiah 45:9, Isaiah 64:8, Jeremiah 18:6, and Romans 9:20-21), and that there’s fruit from God’s influence (John 15:1-11, 1 Corinthians 3:9, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 2 Corinthians 9:8, Galatians 5:16-26, Ephesians 1:4, Ephesians 2:10, Philippians 1:6, Philippians 2:13, Titus 2:14, Titus 3:1, and Hebrews 10:19-25).

[Pre-Chorus]

And all I am
I surrender

Elevation Worship yields to God (Isaiah 64:8, Matthew 10:38, Matthew 11:28-30, Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34-38, Mark 10:28, Luke 9:23, Luke 14:27, John 15:1-11, Romans 6:13, Romans 12:1-2, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 2:5-8, Hebrews 11:6, James 4:7-10, and 1 Peter 5:6).

[Chorus]

Give me faith to trust what You say

Elevation believes intellectually, requesting God for guidance to trust Him relationally (Psalm 86:11, Mark 9:24, Luke 17:5, and Philippians 4:13).

That You’re good, and Your love is great

Elevation Worship also asks God to trust in His goodness and lovingkindness.  Both are shown to Elevation Worship through Jesus, who died for them (John 3:16, Romans 5:6-8, and 1 John 4:8-10).

I’m broken inside, I give You my life

Elevation Worship acknowledges their brokenness (Psalm 14:1-3, Psalm 53:1-3, Proverbs 21:16, Luke 15:11-24, Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:1, Colossians 2:13, and 1 Timothy 5:6), surrendering to God (see Pre-Chorus).

[Verse 2]

I need You to soften my heart
And break me apart

Repeats Verse 1, lines 1 and 2.

I need You to pierce through the dark
And cleanse every part of me

Combines two metaphors to make the same point, namely, God is the light that defeats the darkness within them (Psalm 14:1-3, Psalm 53:1-3, Proverbs 21:16, Luke 15:11-24, Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:1, Colossians 2:13, and 1 Timothy 5:6) and God is a physician who heals their wickedness (Exodus 20:20, Psalm 19:9, Psalm 51:2-5, Proverbs 14:2, Proverbs 23:17, Jeremiah 33:8, Ezekiel 36:25, and 1 John 1:7-9).

[Bridge]

I may be weak
Your Spirit’s strong in me
My flesh may fail
My God You never will

Essentially quotes from Psalm 73:26 in multiple translations, but also includes 2 Corinthians 12:9, where the Apostle Paul states God’s strength is made perfect in weakness.  After all, God never fails (Joshua 21:45, Joshua 23:14, 1 Kings 8:56, Romans 4:21, 2 Corinthians 1:20, Hebrews 10:23, and 2 Peter 3:9).  Also, the Holy Spirit lives in them (Acts 6:5, Romans 8:9-11, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 6:16-19, Galatians 4:6, Ephesians 5:18, and 2 Timothy 1:14).

I may be weak
Your Spirit’s strong in me
My flesh may fail
My God You never will

Repeats lines 1-4.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Elevation Worship uses everyday, common language to make their points accessible to unbelievers.  They should be able to grasp their mind around Elevation Worship’s words, even if they don’t experience God’s Spirit firsthand.  Is it reasonable that these lyrics represent other gods, who soften hearts, opens eyes, grants faith, lives inside people, expresses great love, and whose adherents surrender?  I don’t know of any other gods who do all these things aside from Jesus.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God as we, through this song, acknowledge our brokenness, relent to His ways, and learn to trust Him.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Elevation Worship’s Give Me Faith is an excellent song.  It calls us to confess our innermost wickedness, submitting to God who cleanses us from unrighteousness, grants faith, and strengthens us in weakness, all of which glorify God.  Unbelievers will have little to no trouble interpreting similarly.

I highly recommend this song for corporate worship.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: Give Me Faith (listen to the song)

Artist: Elevation Worship

Album: Kingdom Come

Genre: Rock

Release Year: 2010

Duration: 4:54

Agree?  Disagree?  Don’t be shy or have a cow!  Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.

*Copyright © 2013 Elevation Worship Publishing (BMI) Be Essential Songs (BMI) (admin at EssentialMusicPublishing.com). All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Updates:

09/14/2021 – Per Artist Theology announcement, I expanded the red text to encourage others to study Elevation Worship’s theology.

03/24/2021 – Updated per repetition announcement.