AWAKENING
Sara Groves Lyrics

Dress down your pretty faith. Give me something real.
Strip away the showy, superficial aspects of your faith and show me something genuine and authentic.

Leave out the thee and thou and speak to me now.
Don't use old-fashioned or overly formal language when talking to me; speak to me plainly and directly.

Speak to my pain and confusion.
Address the emotional hurts and uncertainties that I am experiencing.

Speak through my fears and my pride.
Help me overcome my fears and my tendency to put myself before others.

Speak to the part of me that knows I'm something deep down inside.
Address the innermost, truest part of me that recognizes my worth and potential.

I know that I am not perfect, but compare me to most,
While acknowledging my flaws, recognize that I am doing better than many others who are struggling.

In a world of hurt and a world of anger I think I'm holding my own.
Despite the pain, sorrow, and negativity in the world, I am managing to cope and find some peace.

And I know that you said there is more to life.
I am aware that there is a deeper, more meaningful existence beyond what I currently experience.

And I know I am not satisfied.
Despite my relative success at getting by, I still feel unfulfilled and incomplete.

But there are mornings I wake up and I'm just thankful to be alive.
Even in the midst of my struggles, I take time to appreciate the blessing of another day of life.

I've known now, for quite a while, that I am not whole.
I have come to realize that I am missing something essential or fundamental to my well-being.

I've remembered the body and the mind,
I have focused on caring for my physical and mental needs.

But disected my soul.
However, I have neglected the spiritual aspect of myself that is vital to a complete and healthy life.

Now something inside is awakening,
Now, however, I am beginning to feel a stirring or a reawakening of my spiritual self.

Like a dream I once had and forgot.
This awakening is like a memory of something I once knew but had lost sight of.

And it's something I'm scared of
Although it is a positive development, I am still apprehensive about this new direction.

And something I don't want to stop.
Despite my fears, I am drawn to this awakening and don't want it to end.

And I woke up this morning and realized that Jesus is not a portrait.
I had an epiphany that Jesus is more than just an image depicted in artwork or formal church practices.

Where stained glass windows or hymns or the tradition that surrounds us.
He is not limited to the trappings of religious institutions or ceremonies.

And I thought it would be hard to believe in
This realization initially seemed like it would be difficult to reconcile with my understanding of faith.

But it's not hard at all.
However, upon further reflection, it actually makes a lot of sense to me.

To believe I've sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.
One of the key tenets of my faith is acknowledging that I am flawed and have fallen short of divine expectations.

And He's not asking me to change in my joy for martyrdom
God is not necessarily calling me to make dramatic or self-sacrificial gestures in order to show my devotion.

He's asking to take my place.
Instead, He is asking me to serve and help others in a way that is meaningful and specific to my talents and skills.

To stand in the gap that I have formed
God is calling me to make up for my past mistakes, shortcomings, or negative tendencies by being a force for good in the world.

With His real, and His sweet, and His real amazing grace.
He will provide me with the strength, love, and forgiveness necessary to fulfill this calling.

And it's not just a sign or a sacrament.
The Gospel and the salvation it offers are not just symbolic or metaphorical, but truly transformative and life-changing.

It's not just a metaphor for love.
The sacrifice Jesus made on the cross is not simply a poetic or abstract concept, but a real and tangible expression of God's love for humanity.

The blood is real and it's not just a symbol of your faith.
The bloody crucifixion of Jesus is a historical fact and a fundamental cornerstone of Christian belief, not just an abstract symbol or ideology.

So leave out the thee and thou and speak now.
Once again, the singer is encouraged to relate to God in a genuine and authentic way, without relying on rote language or formulaic prayers.