I Surrender - I Wanna Know You More Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
I Surrender - I Wanna Know You More by Hillsong Worship: A Song of Surrender to God's Will
"I Surrender - I Wanna Know You More" is a song by Hillsong Worship that has touched the hearts of many Christians around the world. The song is a powerful declaration of surrender to God's will, and a desire to know Him more deeply. Written by Matt Crocker and sung by several different Hillsong Worship artists, the song's lyrics are simple yet profound, and its melody is both soothing and uplifting.
We will look at the inspiration and story behind the song, the Bible verses it references, and finally, we will discuss how we can apply the message of the song to our own lives as Christians.
The Inspiration and Story Behind the Song
As with many of Hillsong Worship's songs, the inspiration for "I Surrender - I Wanna Know You More" comes from the Bible. Specifically, the song is based on the story of the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:16-22. In this passage, a young man approaches Jesus and asks him what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus tells him to follow the commandments, but the young man responds that he has already done so. Jesus then tells him to sell all his possessions, give the money to the poor, and follow Him. The young man goes away sad, because he has great wealth and cannot bring himself to give it all up.
The story of the rich young ruler is a powerful reminder that following Jesus requires complete surrender. It is not enough to simply follow the commandments; we must also be willing to give up everything we have and follow Him. This is the message of "I Surrender - I Wanna Know You More." The song is a declaration of surrender to God's will, and a desire to know Him more deeply.
The Lyrics of "I Surrender - I Wanna Know You More"
The lyrics of "I Surrender - I Wanna Know You More" are simple yet profound. The song begins with the lines, "Here I am, down on my knees again, surrendering all, surrendering all." These lines set the tone for the rest of the song, which is a declaration of surrender to God's will. The chorus of the song is a powerful statement of surrender, with the lines, "I surrender, drench my soul as mercy and grace unfold, I hunger and thirst, I hunger and thirst." These lines express a deep desire to be filled with God's mercy and grace, and a hunger and thirst for more of Him.
The verses of the song expand on this theme of surrender and desire for God. In the first verse, the singer cries out to God, "Find me here, Lord, as You draw me near, desperate for You, desperate for You." These lines express a deep longing for God's presence, and a recognition that without Him, we are nothing. The second verse continues this theme, with the lines, "With arms stretched wide, I know You hear my cry, speak to me now, speak to me now." These lines express a willingness to receive whatever God has for us, and a desire to hear His voice.
The Bridge of the song is a powerful statement of surrender, with the lines, "Like a rushing wind, Jesus breathe within, Lord have Your way, Lord have Your way in me. Like a mighty storm, stir within my soul, Lord have Your way, Lord have Your way in me." These lines express a deep desire for God to have His way in our lives, and a willingness to be swept away by His Spirit.
Bible Verses Referenced in the Song
As mentioned earlier, the inspiration for "I Surrender - I Wanna Know You More" comes from the story of the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:16-22. However, there are many other Bible verses that the song references as well. Here are a few of them:
- Psalm 42:1 - "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God."
- Psalm 63:1 - "You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water."
- Isaiah 55:1 - "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost."
- John 4:14 - "But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
- Romans 12:1 - "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship."
Practical Application for Christian Living
So what can we learn from "I Surrender - I Wanna Know You More" by Hillsong Worship, and how can we apply its message to our own lives as Christians? Here are a few practical suggestions:
1. Recognize the need for surrender. Just as the rich young ruler in Matthew 19 had to recognize his need to surrender everything to Jesus, we too must recognize our need for surrender. We must be willing to give up everything we have and follow Him.
2. Seek after God. The lyrics of "I Surrender - I Wanna Know You More" express a deep desire to know God more deeply. We too should seek after God with all our heart, and hunger and thirst for more of Him.
3. Be willing to receive whatever God has for us. The bridge of the song expresses a willingness to be swept away by God's Spirit. We too should be willing to receive whatever God has for us, whether it is easy or difficult.
4. Offer ourselves as living sacrifices. Romans 12:1 tells us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. This is what true worship looks like. We must be willing to offer ourselves completely to God, holding nothing back.
In conclusion, "I Surrender - I Wanna Know You More" by Hillsong Worship is a powerful declaration of surrender to God's will, and a desire to know Him more deeply. Its lyrics are simple yet profound, and its melody is both soothing and uplifting. As Christians, we should seek to apply its message to our own lives, recognizing the need for surrender, seeking after God, being willing to receive whatever He has for us, and offering ourselves as living sacrifices.
