A few years ago, I had the opportunity to visit this lovely church in Morro Bay, CA called Coastlands Vineyard Church. Their pastor, Chris Failla, was going to be speaking on expectancy, asking God to move in a new way in the upcoming year in their church. I was praying through what songs to pick for the service, and the Lord basically asked, “why don't you just write one for them?" I hadn’t written a song for a specific church before, but the idea was simply that we can have a great expectation for Jesus - Emmanuel, God with us - to give freely of His Spirit and move in our lives just because He promised to.
“Now to Him who is able to do far more than all we can ask or imagine…” (Eph 3:20)
I found this excerpt from an old journal of me processing that weekend: “I was feeling You leading me to write a song for their congregation this weekend and You gave me one I called Expectation. As much as that was a song specifically for that service, I feel now like it was also a prayer for this next season. My hope is in You. I long to encounter You. I wait in expectation. I cry out in desperation. Have Your way in me, Lord. That’s the cry.”
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PS this word, δύναμις [dynamis], is the Greek word meaning power.
It comes from Revelation 4:11, which is pretty much the whole theme of this project (or whatever you want to call it) which is to join in with the song that is going on in heaven.
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and POWER, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
lyrics
Chorus:
Jesus, Emmanuel
Our hope is found in You
Fall afresh on us we pray
We long to encounter You
Pour out Your Spirit now
We wait in expectation
Lord, have Your way in us
We cry out in desperation
Verse 1:
You've gone before us
You’ve been so faithful
We’ve seen You move
We know You’re able
To do great things
Among Your people
So we look ahead
Trusting You’re the way
Verse 2:
We come before You
In awe and wonder
Lord, take these lives
Wholly surrendered
Come do great things
Among Your people
God, we look ahead
Trusting You’re the way