Red Rocks Worship – Be Still

Red Rocks Worship, much in the same structure as Hillsong, Elevation Worship, and Bethel Music is a church-led band.  This one hails from Red Rock Church in Golden, Colorado.  They released four albums and two EP’s, including:

• Into the Light (2015)
• Living Liturgies (2016, EP)
• Here (Live) (2017)
• spark. (Live) (2019)
• spark.  ACOUSTIC SESSIONS (2020)
• Things of Heaven (Where We Come From) (EP, 2021)

Also, check out my reviews of On Earth as in Heaven, Echo Holy, Breakthrough, and Not Afraid.

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?

This song starts with a request, that God reminds us of His acts and existence, listing several of His attributes and acts:

• Strong
• Source of peace
• Liberator
• Enough for Red Rocks Worship
• Renews strength
• Controls the wind
• Sets boundaries for water and land
• Jesus’ name is above all others
• Hears the righteous
• Truth
• Light
• Father gives and takes away
• Good
• Holy Spirit motivates

Red Rocks Worship is patient to hear from God, asking the Holy Spirit to provide renewed power.  They respond to His lovingkindness by trusting God and His promises, pleading with others to do the same.  They sing a new song, grateful that their fears are gone.

Red Rocks Worship is careful not to promise something that God will not keep.  For example, requested healings and miracles that are not according to the Father’s will.  Rather, they promise that if they trust God, He will renew their strength.  Yes, they might be healed, but they might also be granted power to endure.  Either way, His promise is fulfilled.

Score: 10/10

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

This song draws from many Biblical themes while remaining faithful to this sacred text.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Verse 1]

Remind me, Lord, lest I forget
Who You are and who You have been

Israel is fraught with examples of forgetfulness.  For example, in Numbers 13:1-33, Moses sent twelve spies to reconnoiter the promised land.  Ten were afraid of the Nephilim, forgetting how God rescued their ancestors from Pharaoh’s grasp, previous victories, and God’s provision throughout their journey.  Our forgetful minds require constant reminders of who God is, which is why daily Bible reading and prayer are essential to avoiding forgetfulness.  Also, according to John 14:26, Jesus will send the Holy Spirit to remember what Jesus said.  Finally, we eat bread and drink from the cup to remember what Jesus did for us (Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-24, Luke 22:19-20, and 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

A mighty God, perfect in peace
My Champion, all that I need

Describes four qualities of God:

• Mighty (See 48 references in the Old Testament and 10 in the New Testament)
• Peaceful (Matthew 11:28-30, John 14:27, John 16:33, 2 Corinthians 13:11, Philippians 4:6-7, Colossians 3:15, 2 Thessalonians 3:16, and James 3:17)
• Champion (Romans 8:37, 1 Corinthians 15:57, 2 Corinthians 2:14, 1 John 5:4-5, and Revelation 12:10-11)
• Red Rocks Worship’s portion (Numbers 18:20, Deuteronomy 10:9, Deuteronomy 18:2, Joshua 13:33, Psalm 16:5, Psalm 23:5, Psalm 73:26, Psalm 142:5, Psalm 119:57, Psalm 142:5, Lamentations 3:24, and Ezekiel 44:28)

[Chorus]

I will wait for You, I will wait for You
Holy Spirit come renew all of my strength

Borrows from Isaiah 40:31, with Red Rocks Worship’s prayer offered specifically to the Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit come renew all of my strength

Repeats line 2.

[Verse 2]

Who can hold the wind in His hands
The shorelines drawn to where He has planned
Jesus Christ the name above all

Jesus calmed the storm (Matthew 8:23–27, Mark 4:35–41, and Luke 8:22–25), decided shoreline boundaries (Proverbs 8:29 and Jeremiah 5:22), and whose name is above all others (Philippians 2:9).

Will hear my cry whenever I call

He promises to hear our cries (1 John 5:14), and that He will respond according to the Father’s will that brings Him glory (John 14:13).  The word “my” refers to Red Rocks Worship, as they are not sinners that God does not hear (John 9:31).

[Bridge]

I will choose life even in darkness
Your truth lights a beautiful spark

Combines Jesus as Truth (John 14:6) with His light that defeats darkness (Psalm 107:10-16, Luke 1:79, John 1:1-13, John 12:46, Ephesians 5:8, Colossians 1:13, and 1 Peter 2:9).

In this heart and soul, be still and know
That my fear’s gone here in Your presence

If God is with Red Rocks Worship, what can man do to them (Psalm 27:1, Psalm 118:6, Isaiah 51:12, and Hebrews 13:6)?  They will be still and know He is Lord (Psalm 46:10).

A new song rises to heaven
This heart and soul will be still and know
That You are good, oh-oh-oh

Red Rocks Worship sings a new song about God’s goodness.  According to Psalm 96:1-2, this “goodness” is His salvation.  Combined with a call to Casper the friendly ghost.

You are good, oh-oh-oh
You are good to me, oh-ohh, oh-ohh
That You are good, oh-oh-oh
You are good, we believe, oh-oh-oh
You are good to me, oh Lord

Essentially repeats line 7 several times.

[Spontaneous]

Oh, Jesus
Oh, Father

Completes Red Rocks Worship’s naming of all three persons of the Trinity.

Father, You can take what You want
And You can give what You please

The Father gives and takes away (Job 1:21).

Because we trust You
That You are so good

Red Rocks Worship has faith in God’s goodness (see Bridge, line 7).

In this room tonight, Holy Spirit
Would You come and renew the strength of Your people?

See Chorus, lines 1 and 2.

Those who are hurting, those who are weary
Those who have marriages that
They’re more just like, transactional business partners
The broken, those who; have cancer, those who are sick
God, those who are just depressed and discouraged
Lord, would You please, would You renew their strength?

Examples of burdens and weariness that, according to Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30, He will take and offer rest to those who ask for it.  He sent the Holy Spirit to comfort them (John 14:26).  Red Rocks Worship is not asking for healing or a miracle specifically, but for strength.

So we’re gonna sing that Tag
Holy Spirit, come and renew our strength

That is, Red Rocks Worship and their audience will, in the future, sing section “Tag”, below, which often repeats Chorus, line 2.

And I believe that as we do that
If we truly, truly open our hands wide and we just say:
God, whatever You want, we trust You, we put our eyes on You
When we do that, He will, He will come and renew our strength
He will encourage us

Red Rocks Worship concludes that if we truly surrender to Jesus (Psalm 43:5, 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), the Holy Spirit will offer what He promised, namely, renewed strength and encouragement (Acts 9:31).

He will take the broken things and He will make them beautiful
Mmm, oh, we believe in Jesus

  According to Genesis 50:20, God is in the business of taking our sins and turning them around for His good.

[Tag]

Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit come renew all of my strength
Make that your cry tonight
Holy Spirit come renew all of my strength
Yes, sing it out, Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit come renew all of my strength
Would You do it, Lord? Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit come renew all of my strength
I believe, come on
Holy Spirit come renew all of my strength
Would You do it, Lord? Yeah
Holy Spirit come renew all of my strength
Come on church, we sing Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit come renew all of my strength

Red Rocks Worship encourages their audience to repeatedly sing Chorus, line 2 in their hearts.  Though they state “tonight”, their aim is for us to carry this idea throughout the rest of our lives.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

This song intermixes everyday with Christianese, easily leading unbelievers to think it’s Christian based on terms like “Holy Spirit”, “Jesus”, “heaven”, and “church”.  They should conclude that Red Rocks Worship lists God’s attributes and acts, lists examples of weariness that might apply to them, and asks them to trust God for renewed strength.  Considering that Red Rocks Worship did not say God would heal them, it’s difficult to think unbelievers will misinterpret this song as answered prayers.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit through Red Rock Worship’s description of attributes, acts, and promises consistent with Scripture.  Namely, might to get through each day.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Red Rocks Worship’s Be Still is great.  It names all three persons of the Godhead, alongside their properties and past initiatives, including goodness, truth, control over nature, and source Red Rocks Worship’s power.  It also begs others to follow in Red Rocks Worship’s footsteps to trust God, bringing Him glory.  Unbelievers should have little to no trouble accurately interpreting it.

I highly recommend this song for corporate worship.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: Be Still (Live) (listen to the song)

Artist: Red Rocks Worship

Album: spark. (Live)

Genre: Rock

Release Year: 2019

Duration: 8:52

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*Copyright © 2019 Red Rocks Worship (ASCAP) All Essential Music (ASCAP) Songs of Red Rocks Worship Publishing (BMI) Be Essential Songs (BMI) (admin at EssentialMusicPublishing.com). All rights reserved. Used by permission.