Nelson's musical abilities were further cultivated while he was a student at the Baltimore School for the Arts and Morgan State University where he studied under the esteemed choir director Dr. Nathan Carter. Nelson was soon traveling the globe and conducting choirs his self and working in the music department at his father's church. About fifteen of his friends and he would also get together and sing at church. When Karen Clark-Sheard was coming to perform at his church, she needed some backing singers and his friends stepped in. "It wasn't a formal group," he recalls. "It was just something we did and after we did that service with Karen, we really enjoyed working together and that's when we became Purpose."
At the same time, Nelson had found a lucrative and comfortable income as an executive with a computer software company. Then, something happened to fuel Nelson's writing abilities. "Around 2001 when all of the dotcoms went down I was unemployed and that's when my passion for writing came alive," he says. "I began to write all these songs because I was living off of unemployment. That process took me through a whole thing because of my experience. The song `Healed' definitely came out of that."
Purpose had recorded the song "Healed" on their own self-financed CD in 2002. Nelson had met Grammy-nominated choir leader, Donald Lawrence, at a Washington, D.C. workshop in 2000. "When Donald heard `Healed' he said, `I'm gonna record that song.' He felt that message was what God was saying to the church at the time." Lawrence's words proved prophetic and his rousing rendition of "Healed" became a Top Ten gospel smash in 2005. The icing on the cake was that the song won Nelson the Stellar Award as Songwriter of the Year in 2006. He was presented with the award by the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. "I was so shocked that I won," Nelson laughs. "That I didn't even realize that it was Aretha who gave me the award."
Perhaps, the greatest award is that Nelson's songs were now in demand. "I met Troy Sneed at a Gospel Music Workshop of America convention. He said that he had heard a song Purpose recorded called `The Right Place' and that he wanted to record it." Sneed produced the song on Pastor Rudolph McKissick and it became a Top 5 Billboard gospel hit.
It was through Sneed that Nelson would enjoy his biggest song yet. "Troy called one day and said that he was coming to Baltimore to record a group of youth," Nelson recalls. "He called me on a Tuesday and I didn't have a song that night. I wrote `The Struggle is Over' in about ten minutes. The scripture for it comes from Deuteronomy 1: 6-8 in the NIV version. In that scripture, the Lord spoke to Moses to tell the children of Israel they could now come out of the wilderness and possess the land that God promised them in Canaan. So, for them, the struggle was over. So, during the recording that night, the kids were crying and Troy said, `This will be the single.'"
Indeed, it was the single. Released in the winter of 2006, the congregational ballad became the surprise hit of the summer when it spent 12 weeks at #1 on Billboard magazine's Hot Gospel Songs chart. "I never thought it was single worthy," says Nelson. "It didn't sound commercial to me but I apologize for that because obviously the song has resonated with many, many people and touched them."
It was that spirit of touching hearts and minds that permeated Nelson's self-financed concert recording in December 2006. "I undertook that whole project without even knowing if any recording label was going to release it," Nelson confesses. "I took a risk."
Then, Troy Sneed's publicist introduced Nelson to Integrity Music consultant Stacy Merida, who then brought Nelson to the attention of executives at Integrity Music and helped fashion his recording agreement. Now, that live recording which features cameos by William Murphy, Nikki Ross and Sheri Jones-Moffett is finally making its brilliant debut. "My whole concept is dealing with success, victory and triumph," says Nelson. "I expect supernatural success. This CD was in response to the success of `The Struggle is Over' in 2006. The theme of songs like `My Name is Victory' and `Champions' are all in response to the success that God has given us."
"Most songs I get from sermons," Nelson explains. "It comes from divine inspiration. The speaker might say one word but that one word goes into a whole thing. The song `Capacity' came during a service. My father was preaching and while he was preaching, I started writing that song." There was another time when Todd Hall was prophesying in a church service and "he said to turn to your neighbor and say `my praise causes things to look bettah' and instantly every word of that song `Bettah' was written right there in the service."
The only song that Nelson and his frequent songwriting collaborator, Justin Savage, didn't write
is Chris Tomlin's "How Great is Our God." Nelson says, "I heard it at a worship service and it spoke to me. It's an intoxicating song. A whole church no matter what race, creed or color can sing along to it. It became an anthem at my church."
An anthem for Nelson's personal life is the title song, "Right Now Praise." He says, "I wrote that during a difficult time in my life back in 2003. I was on the verge of losing my home and my car. I was working as a substitute teacher. I was in a very low place. My car is my mediation place. I was crying down the road and started singing a melody to the Lord and that's when `Right Now Praise' came to me. I had to rush into school and get to my tape recorder and put it down before I forgot it. Everything with this project is timing. I feel like its time for whatever God has for me to do right now. This is my God ordained time for my life.
http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/artistdetail.php?artist_id=1420
My Name Is Victory
Jonathan Nelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I?ve got evidence
I?ve got confidence
I?m a conquer
I know that I?ll win
I know who I am
God wrote it in his plan
For me
Ooh, oh oh ohooo my name is VICTORY!
(Repeat Chorus 1)
Verse
God gave me authority
To conquer the enemy
He wrote it my destiny
And my name is victory
He said that I?ve over come
I know I?ve already won
He wrote it my destiny
That my name is Victory
I know who I am
God wrote it in his plan
For me
Ooh, oh oh ohooo my name is VICTORY!
Ooh, oh oh ohooo my name is VICTORY!
Repeat verse
Lead I know my Identity
My name is VICTORY repeat 2 x?s
I know my Identity
My name is VICTORY! (Repeat 5 X?s)
Victory that?s my name
Victory I know who I am (Repeat 2)
I know my Identity
My name is VICTORY! (Repeat 2 X?s)
Victory that?s my name
Victory I know who I am (Repeat 2)
I know who I am (repeat 4 x?s)
In Jonathan Nelson's song My Name Is Victory, the message is clear that the singer's identity is rooted in victory. The chorus, repeated twice, declares that the singer possesses evidence and confidence that they are a conqueror who knows they will win because God has written it in their plan. The singer goes on to assert that God gave them the authority to conquer the enemy and that their destiny is to overcome. The refrain "I know who I am, God wrote it in his plan for me" reinforces this message of certainty in their identity.
The repetition of the chorus and refrain throughout the song serves to establish the singer's declaration of victory as a mantra, reinforcing their self-assurance and devotion to the will of God. The use of the word "conquer" and the imagery of authority over the enemy suggest a battle, one in which the singer has emerged victorious. The language throughout the song borrows from Christian theology, specifically the belief that through faith in Jesus Christ, believers have already won a spiritual victory over sin and death.
Overall, the song is an expression of gratitude and joy in the knowledge that the singer's identity is not defined by their circumstances or their past, but rather by their faith in God's plan for their life. It is an uplifting and empowering message for those who may be struggling to find their own sense of identity and purpose.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got evidence
I have proof and testimony
I've got confidence
I am assured in my abilities and trust in God's plan
I'm a conquer
I am victorious over my struggles and battles
I know that I'll win
I am certain of my success and prosperity
I know who I am
I have a clear understanding of my purpose and identity
God wrote it in his plan
My destiny has been predetermined and authored by God
For me
My unique path to victory has been designed by God
My name is VICTORY!
I am triumphant and successful, and that is my identity
God gave me authority
God has bestowed upon me power and control over my life and circumstances
To conquer the enemy
My authority empowers me to defeat my adversaries and obstacles
He wrote it my destiny
God has predetermined my fate and purpose
He said that I've over come
God has confirmed my victory over my struggles
That my name is Victory
My identity is intertwined with my success and triumph
Lead I know my Identity
I am confident in my purpose and sense of self
Victory that's my name
My identity is synonymous with success and winning
Victory I know who I am
My identity and purpose is rooted in my success and triumph
I know who I am
I have a clear understanding of my purpose and identity
Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing, Integrity Music, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jonathan Nelson, Justin Lee Savage
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@geraldwarren6438
Woke up to this song in my spirit after being angry over a breakup. GOD already has the victory in this situation and because I am HIS child I also have the victory!!!!!
In JESUS NAME THANK YOU GOD!!!!!
HALLELUJAH 🙌🙏❤️
HALLELUJAH 🙌🙏❤️
HALLELUJAH 🙏🙌🙏
LORD I THANK YOU!!!!!!
VICTORY IN TRIBULATION!!!
GLORY IN TRIBULATION!!!!!!!!!
LORD I THANK YOU!!!!!
@jesusislord6921
I am at work right now. I’m 18. I have a task that is out of my comfort zone that involves talking to strangers. It is extremely out my comfort zone. I am honestly sitting here compelled with fear. But God blessed me to have a friend who was there for me and encouraged me. I have to get up and defeat this spirit if shyness. And I know that I am victorious. I will not be defeated by fear. The devil shall not win. MY NAME IS VICTORY!!
@tammyl.victory5974
😘 PRAISE GOD!!!!! HONORED YOU'RE PROUDLY SHOW/SHARE YOUR PLAN 😍..HIS TRUTH SETS US FREE!!! YOU'RE SO BRAVE!!! HIS WARRIOR!!! A SOLDIER 🦾♥️✝️
@TheVictoryChurch
Read the story of Gideon and David, Jesus will give you the strength you need 💯🙏🏼✝❤ yup, our names our VICTORY!!!!
@carrie8272
Jasmine, whenever that demonic spirit of fear tries to intimidate or bully you....confess this scripture outloud "My God has Not given me the Spirit of Fear, But He has given me the SPIRIT OF POWER, LOVE AND SOUND MIND! (2 Tim.1:7)
@tammyl.victory5974
@@carrie8272 I LOVE YOU BABY! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPREADING GOD'S WORD. I WISH I COULD HUG YOU. YOU'RE AN ANGEL ON EARTH KEEPING US GOING! THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. 🙌🏻🤗😘✝️💋
@tammyl.victory5974
@Chan T 🙌🏻 FOR SURE!!!!!!! PRAISE AND BELIEVE!!!!! 🤗🤗🤗🤗✝️✝️✝️✝️YAY!!!¡
@dawnduckson4270
In the hospital and I woke up hearing this song in my head. Not a coincidence. I will go home completely healed.
@favoredloved2441
AMEN.. CONTINUE BE 2 GET BETTER N BETTER IN JESUS NAME💕💞💕💞🤗
@lizettefoster5745
Hallelujah, Glory to.God 🤗
@msfruitloops1
To GOD Be The Glory! HALLELUJAH!!