During the 54th Grammy Awards ceremony on February 12th, 2012, there were awards given to several outstanding songs and albums and their singers, but what I believe stood out in the awards were the songs and albums chosen in the Gospel and Contemporary Christian category.
The best Gospel song and Gospel album was won by “Hello Fear” by King Franklin.
The best contemporary Christian music album was won by “And If Our God Is For Us …” by Chris Tomlin.
The best contemporary Christian music song was won by “Blessings” by Laura Story.
The lyrics of Kirk Franklin’s “Hello Fear” song paints the story an individual who is severing his relationship with “fear” that had imprisoned him and stolen all hopes and dreams, as God’s healing of hurtful places and grace took its place.
Chris Tomlin in an interview said that he was constantly being bombarded with the thought of the greatest, strongest, most high, healing, awesome and powerful God, who was for us and so changed the originally intended title of the album from “Expectations” to “And If Our God Is For Us …”. He specifically calls to attention in this interview, the importance and significance of the last three dots (dot, dot, dot) at the the end of the album title, expressing that when Our God is For us, (you fill in the blanks), but there is nothing that can stop us, or stand against us. In other words, If Our God Is For Us, nothing is impossible and Scripture affirms that Our God Is For Us!
Finally, the song Blessings by Laura Story paint the imagery of the trials and tears of life to be blessings and mercies in disguise and with the singer, we can pray that we are given wisdom to discern and hear God’s voice, in the midst of the rain and storm; during the hardest and darkest hours of our life, for pain reminds us, that this is not our home – we are just passing through.
Points to ponder:
Putting the three Gospel and Christian winning titles together, we can see God’s message to each one of us, through these award winning titles and songs, that, since OUR GOD IS FOR US, there is NO reason to FEAR and we can call fear and say, “HELLO FEAR”, Grace has taken your place, so farewell, goodbye fear. It is now time for BLESSINGS to flow in, even if it comes in the form of trials and tears. Our prayer Lord is that you give us wisdom to hear your voice and faith to believe!
Romans 8:15 (KJV)
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Romand 8:31 (KJV)
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Ephesians 1:3 (KJV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (KJV)
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
