Skip to main content

"Praise The Lord" by Joshua Royal: Shifting Our Focus Back to God


Time flies, and distractions are constantly entering our lives, sometimes to the point that we forget about God. Oops!! It may not be what we intended, and sometimes all it takes is a song to help us to refocus. Joshua Royal's "Praise The Lord" is that kind of song, and it came from a real moment where Joshua needed to shift his focus back to God. "Praise the Lord" is joyful and upbeat, with great lyrics and worship vibes. Joshua sings, "When I wake up in the morning // I will join in your creation song again," setting the tone for a day filled with praise and thankfulness. 

Joshua Royal - Praise The LordThe song reminds us that there is always a reason to praise, regardless of our circumstances: "Even if I'm in the valley // Let there be a sound of joy flow from my lips." So, get up, lift your hands and dance! You can praise Him to celebrate your deliverance or praise Him just to simply acknowledge His presence. "You're the Lord of my deliverance // You have broken every chain," He is the source of true freedom! 

May we highlight God's majesty, "All the heavens sing your glory // Every star you hung is calling out your name," because "Letting go is not your nature // You will leave the 99 to chase thy one." We can count on His love, a love that never fades. We may know "That it's good to praise the Lord." 

So, go ahead and let this song inspire you to sing along.

(Related scripture: Psalm 34:1; Psalm 145:1-3; Luke 15:4-5)

Connect with Joshua Royal

Would you like to hear more CCM music? Then check out our Christian playlists on: https://www.christiandance.eu/playlists

PS: Did you know that the posts we have on Christian Music Today also contain the backstories that artists have shared with us? Check it out on: https://christianmusictoday.eu/

Tags:

Popular posts

"Guide Me (O, Thou Great Jehovah) / Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" by Ezra Worship Initiative – Ancient Wisdom, Fresh Waves

I'm sitting in traffic, Spotify on shuffle, listening to my collection of new releases. That's when the song "Guide Me (O, Thou Great Jehovah) / Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" by Ezra Worship Initiative starts to play. The song starts with a revamp of a 280-year-old hymn "Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah", and then beautifully transitions to the chorus of Hillsong's "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)". This medley made my heart do a little cartwheel!  The hymn "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah" (originally "Arglwydd, arwain trwy'r anialwch" in Welsh) by William Williams (a Welsh Methodist preacher) was inspired by the biblical story of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt. Williams wrote this in 1745 as a plea to God for guidance while traveling through life's wilderness. A 280-year-old plea that is still very relevant for us today.  "I am weak, but Thou art mighty // hold me with thy powerful hand," a thought that ...
More >>

'Lonely Dirt Road' by Dax: A Journey to Solitude and God

Dax's 'Lonely Dirt Road' is a conversation that Dax has with himself and God. Dax shares his journey of turning mental health walks into healing solitary drives. As you listen, you can almost feel the cruise, where it's just you, your thoughts, and God.  The chorus is so relatable: 'When I need space, that's where I go, a place to escape that nobody knows.' What do you do when life's pressures stack high? Do you also have a space where you can let go? That lonely dirt road that Dax sings about symbolizes solitude, but it is also an incredible opportunity for connecting with God.  Dax's honesty is raw and relatable. 'I didn't want my family to see me cry… dealing with the pressure of trying to provide.' There are times when we all put on a smile to hide how challenging situations may be. Like his father, Dax says that he finds peace on this lonely road, where challenges become opportunities to grow. This shows the core of our faith: that...
More >>

"Heartbeat" by Laura Leighe - Dancing in Worship

Here's a song that's more or less been stuck in my head since I heard it. It's called 'Heartbeat' by Laura Leighe and is what Laura calls a "reggaeton-influenced Christian pop duet" that's all about surrendering to God's rhythm and dancing in worship, no matter what life throws your way.  The lyrics remind me of two scriptures: "Praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe."  - Psalm 150:4 (NIV) and "Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might."  - 2 Samuel 6:14 (NIV). Maybe I'm a bit prejudiced because the song reminds us of our own thoughts when we founded "Christian Dance" years ago and picked a name. Focusing on music that allows us to feel joy and causes us (our hearts) to dance for God, a pure form of worship that we know is pleasing to God. The lyrics are about surrendering our control and trusting in God's plan. Laura sings, "I bet you f...
More >>