Rebecca was born in Sydney, Australia, to David and Helen Smallbone. She is the oldest of seven children, and currently lives in Los Angeles with Jacob. Rebecca took the name St. James from her grandmother, as it was her maiden name. Her album ‘’God’’ was certified Gold by the RIAA in 1995. Also, ‘’Pray ‘’ was certified Gold by the RIAA on the last week of September 1999.
Rebecca's musical career began in 1990 at age 13 when she began opening shows for CCM (Christian Contemporary Music) artist Carman during his Australian tour which was promoted by her father's company, David Smallbone Promotions. That same year she recorded her first album, Refresh My Heart. In 1991 she moved to the United States upon signing with ForeFront Records, and took her stage name at the label's request.
In 1999 Rebecca received a Grammy Award for her album ''Pray'' in the Best Rock Gospel Album category. Rebecca is the eighth Australian artist or group to win a Grammy Award.
In 2003 she played the part of Maggie (Mary Magdalene) in the !HERO rock opera.
Rebecca is an open supporter of teenage sexual abstinence, and has become an unofficial spokesperson for True Love Waits. The single "Wait for Me", from her 2000 album Transform, encourages waiting to have sex until after marriage. Later that year it also became the title and focus of a 46-city tour. James wrote the song herself on a tour bus, and it became instantly popular. The song was also used on the TV program The O.C. Rebecca's first book, titled Wait for Me: Rediscovering the Joy of Purity in Romance, was published in 2002 and further addressed the issue.
In November of 2005, Rebecca released her highly anticipated album If I Had One Chance To Tell You Something. After not putting out a new pop/rock album since 2000, this album combines Rebecca's overall versatility in vocal and song writing to the finest degree.
Rebecca sang a song on the 2005 soundtrack, Music Inspired by the Chronicles of Narnia called "Lion" for which she won a Dove Award.
A Special Edition of If I Had One Chance To Tell You Something was released in November 2006 and included two acoustic tracks and other special features.
In 2007. Rebecca released her live CD\DVD aLIVE In Florida featuring some of her No. 1 hits as well as fan favorites.
In 2008, two compilation albums, The Ultimate Collection (Double Disc) and Greatest Hits featuring some of her biggest hits were released. The same year she also released a new book called Pure: A 90-Day Devotional for the Mind, Body, & Spirit which broke into Top 10 at #9 on the CBA bestseller's list in Feb 2009. Pure is also nominated among the Top 3 books of 2009 for the youth/teen market.
The September 09' release of Loved, (Hachette/Faithwords) and the fall national film release of Sarah’s Choice capped 2009 as one of Rebecca’s most creatively diverse years.
Pray
Rebecca St. James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
before You I fall
I lay me down what I want is You my all
I cry out from the ashes boundless
and unchained
I ask You Lord
to make me whole again,
and will pray to You
There's forgiveness
when I turn from me and pray
For You say if I will come
and will pray to You
You hear me and heal me when I pray
Your ways are not my own but I long
for them to be
So this is what I pray one with You
You'll make me, melt me away
‘Til only You remain.
For You say if I will come
and will pray to You
There's forgiveness
when I turn to You and pray
For you say if I will come
and will pray to You
You hear me and heal me when I pray
Jesus I am broken now before You
Take me, I am Yours
The song "Pray" by Rebecca St. James talks about the power of prayer and how it can heal and make one whole again. Jesus is the central figure in the song, and the singer acknowledges her brokenness before Him. She falls before Him and lays down everything she wants, understanding that what she truly needs is Jesus. She cries out from the ashes, expressing her vulnerability and asking Jesus to heal her and make her whole again.
The singer emphasizes that forgiveness and healing come when one turns to Jesus and prays to Him. She acknowledges that Jesus' ways are not her own, but she longs for them to be. She sincerely prays that Jesus would melt her away until only He remains. The song emphasizes the importance of surrendering to Jesus and letting Him take control.
Overall, "Pray" encourages listeners to turn to Jesus through prayer and seek healing and wholeness in Him. It highlights the power of prayer and what it can do in a person's life.
Line by Line Meaning
Jesus, I am broken now
I recognize my brokenness and come before you in humility.
before You I fall
I surrender myself completely to you, recognizing your authority and power.
I lay me down what I want is You my all
I am willing to sacrifice all of my desires and wants for the sake of having a deeper relationship with you.
I cry out from the ashes boundless and unchained
I cry out to you with a heart that feels boundless and free from the chains of my past mistakes and failures.
I ask You Lord to make me whole again,
I am asking you to restore and heal me from my brokenness and make me whole again.
For you say if I will come and will pray to You, There's forgiveness when I turn from me and pray
I am reminded that forgiveness is available to anyone who comes and prays to you, and that it requires turning away from my own selfish desires.
For You say if I will come and will pray to You, You hear me and heal me when I pray
I believe that you hear me when I pray to you, and that you are capable of healing me from any situation.
Your ways are not my own but I long for them to be
I recognize that your ways may not align with my own, but I desire to follow and obey them.
So this is what I pray one with You, You'll make me, melt me away
I ask that you mold and shape me until I am one with you, and that any parts of me that are not aligned with your will be melted away.
‘Til only You remain.
I desire to fully surrender my life to you, until only you remain in me.
Jesus I am broken now before You Take me, I am Yours
Once again acknowledging my brokenness, I offer myself to you and proclaim that I belong to you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, O/B/O DistroKid, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JAMES, THOMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Raphael Falzarano
Every man,woman and child...people everywhere! It's time to Pray.
LyRicS
Jesus
I am broken now
Before You I fall
I lay me down
All I want is You, my all
I cry out from the ashes
Burned with sin and shame
I ask You Lord to make me whole again
For You say if I will come and will pray to You
There's forgiveness when I turn from me and pray
For You say if I will come and will pray to You
You hear me and heal me when I pray
Your ways are not my own
But I long for them to be
So this is what I pray
One with You You'll make me
Melt me away, 'til only You remain
For You say if I will come and will pray to You
There's forgiveness when I turn from me and pray
For You say if I will come and will pray to You
You hear me and heal me when I pray
Jesus
I am broken now
Before You
Take me I am Yours
For You say if I will come and will pray to You
There's forgiveness when I turn from me and pray
For You say if I will come and will pray to You
You hear me and heal me
For You say if I will come and will pray to You
There's forgiveness when I turn from me and pray
For You say if I will come and will pray to You
You hear me and heal me
When I pray
When I pray
When I pray
When I pray
When I pray
When I pray
Songwriters
THOMPSON/JAMES
Published by
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Orchid
This was my go to song back in 98' when I was 15 years old. I loved it so much, still a great song.
lilmamaStephanizzle
same huge
Aligator
¿😍Como es que nunca supe de esta maravillosa voz?.
Lion Zion
Congratulations Rebecca on your GRAMMY AWARD for this album!🎤🎼🙏🦅💫❣️
Mimi Alba
One of THE best concerts ever, she was awesome on stage! Saw her twice. 💕 Love her.....
James Heverling
This song & video is an inspiration to me. Thanks God and Jesus.!!!!!!!.❤❤❤😂😂😂😮😅😅😅🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Lisa Campos
Will always love this song and one of my favorite albums❤🔥
Andrew Munoz
John 6:37 - Jesus said : " All Those The Father Gives Me Will Come To Me, And Whoever Comes To Me I Will Never Drive Away."
Stephanie Raye Anaya
This song ❤️ saved me 🙏🙌💙
kituwahband
Used to listen to this on Praise TV!! Now her brothers are quite well themselves, love their music too!!!