Song Of Intercession
William McDowell Lyrics


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[Sung:]
Oh Lord... we come...
To You... we lay our lives before You
You know... our needs... before... we asked.
So we come... not for ourselves...
But we're crying out for the nations.

Oh Lord... we pray...
Give us beauty for ashes,
Strength for our weakness,
Oh Lord... we pray...
Give us faith to believe,
Hearts that we seek.

Oh Lord... we pray...
As Your church, we arise,
Jesus, please hear our cry and have mercy...

[Spoken:]
Do I have a room full of intercessors tonight
Who will begin to lift up your voice?
Some of you may even want to run to the altar.
And begin to lift up your voice
Not on behalf of yourself,
But on behalf of the nations.

Is there anyone that would join me
In praying for the nations of the earth,
That the government will be upon His shoulders,
That the Lord of glory will intervene
And hear the affairs of man?
Where are the intercessors?
Where are those who will cry out?
Where are those who will believe God,
Who will say...

[Sung:]
"Oh God, hear Your people.
Oh God, hear the cries of Your people."
As we lift up our voices tonight,
As we lift up our voices tonight.
If we've ever needed You,
Right now is the time,
Right now is the time to
Change the nations, Lord. [x3]
Reveal Your glory.
And let Your church rise.
Oh God, reveal Your glory.
And let the church rise.

Oh God, let the government be on your shoulders.

Intervene on the behalf of every leader,
Every nation, we cry out, we cry out, we cry out.
We cry out, oh... We need You...
Have mercy on us, Lord. [x3]
And turn our hearts back to You.
Turn our hearts back to You. [x2]
Turn our hearts back to You, oh God.

Reveal Your Son; release miracles.
Signs of wonders, oh God, release miracles.
Signs of wonders, that You will be glorified.
High and lifted up, and the nations will tremble.
The nations will come in fear and say
"Jesus Christ is Lord! " [x2]
You are Lord!

Let the church rise [x3]
Come on, lift up your voices
Let a sound be heard [x2]
Through the nations of the earth.
Oh...

The change I want to see
Must first begin in me
I surrender, so your world can be changed.
[X6]

The change I want to see
Must first begin in me
I surrender [x8]
So your world can be changed.

[Spoken:]
You are the light of the world.
Cities set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Whether you know it or not,
The world is looking at you
Because the answer that they seek
Is on the inside of You.
So I say:

[Sung:]
If they're looking for You
Let them find You in me
[X2]

If they're looking for You, Jesus
Let them find You in me
[X2]

The change I want to see




Must first begin in me...
I surrender all...

Overall Meaning

In "Song of Intercession," William McDowell leads his listeners in a powerful prayer of intercession for the nations of the world. The song begins with a recognition of the omnipresence of God and His knowledge of our needs even before we ask. McDowell then calls on the church to pray not for themselves but for the nations. He asks God to give us beauty for ashes and strength for our weaknesses, and for hearts that seek after Him.


As the song continues, McDowell prompts the listeners to lift their voices in prayer for the governments and leaders of the world. He calls on the listeners to cry out to God for mercy and for a turning back to Him. The song reaches a climax as McDowell declares that the change we want to see in the world must first begin with us. He invites the listeners to surrender all and to be a light for the world, so that when others seek God, they can find Him in us.


Overall, "Song of Intercession" is a song of hope, faith, and intercession. It encourages us to not only pray for ourselves but for the whole world and to be agents of change in our own lives.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh Lord... we come...
We approach You, God


To You... we lay our lives before You
We offer our lives to You


You know... our needs... before... we asked.
You know our needs before we even articulate them


So we come... not for ourselves...
We are not here for our own purposes


But we're crying out for the nations.
We are praying for the nations of the earth


Oh Lord... we pray...
We beseech You, Lord


Give us beauty for ashes,
Give us something beautiful in exchange for our regrettable pasts


Strength for our weakness,
Give us the power to overcome our shortcomings


Oh Lord... we pray...
We plead with You, Lord


Give us faith to believe,
Help us to have faith


Hearts that we seek.
Help us to have hearts that seek You


As Your church, we arise,
The Church is rising up


Jesus, please hear our cry and have mercy...
We call on Jesus for His mercy


Do I have a room full of intercessors tonight
Is there a group of people tonight who will pray for others?


Who will begin to lift up your voice?
Who will start to pray out loud?


Not on behalf of yourself,
Not for personal gain


But on behalf of the nations.
But for the sake of the nations


Is there anyone that would join me
Will anyone join me?


The government will be upon His shoulders,
God is in control of governments


That the Lord of glory will intervene
God will act in the affairs of men


And hear the affairs of man?
God is listening


Where are the intercessors?
Where are the people who will pray for others?


Where are those who will cry out?
Where are the people who will fervently pray?


Where are those who will believe God,
Where are those who will take God at His word?


Who will say...
Who will declare...


"Oh God, hear Your people.
"God, listen to Your people


Oh God, hear the cries of Your people."
"God, hear the cries of Your people"


As we lift up our voices tonight,
As we pray out loud tonight


If we've ever needed You,
If we've ever needed God


Right now is the time,
Now is the time


Change the nations, Lord.
Change the nations of the world


Reveal Your glory.
Let Your glory be seen


And let Your church rise.
Let the Church be lifted up


Let the government be on your shoulders.
Let God govern the nations


Intervene on the behalf of every leader,
Act on behalf of every leader


Every nation, we cry out, we cry out, we cry out.
We pray for all nations


We cry out, oh... We need You...
We pray desperately and need You, God


Have mercy on us, Lord.
Show us mercy, God


And turn our hearts back to You.
Help us to turn back to You


Reveal Your Son; release miracles.
Let us see the Son, and let miracles be seen


Signs of wonders, oh God, release miracles.
Let there be miraculous signs and wonders


That You will be glorified.
So that You, God, will be honored


High and lifted up, and the nations will tremble.
God will be exalted and the nations will be in awe


The nations will come in fear and say
The nations will come to You and be afraid


"Jesus Christ is Lord! "
"Jesus Christ is Lord!"


You are Lord!
You are the Lord, God


Let the church rise
Let the Church be lifted up


Come on, lift up your voices
Let's pray fervently


Let a sound be heard
Let there be a loud cry


Through the nations of the earth.
Let it be heard throughout the earth


The change I want to see
The change I desire


Must first begin in me
Must start with me


I surrender, so your world can be changed.
I give up control, so the world can change


You are the light of the world.
We are the light of the world


Cities set on a hill cannot be hidden.
We are not meant to be secret


Whether you know it or not,
Whether you realize it or not,


The world is looking at you
The world is watching you


Because the answer that they seek
Because the answer they need


Is on the inside of You.
Lies within you.


If they're looking for You
If they are seeking You, God


Let them find You in me
Let them see You through me


The change I want to see
The change I desire


Must first begin in me...
Must start with me...


I surrender all...
I give You everything...




Contributed by Adrian G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Deborah Ekechukwu

Who else got goosebumps listening to this. Powerful worship!

Black Educated and Pretty

I just did

Brad Scott

Yes yes yes!!!!!!

Carolyn Fawole

Awesome worship!

R Miller

It awakens something in me!!! This has become my dedicated Morning Praise and Worship song, my ⏰ sound... Through the power and changes of God, I surely desire for Jesus to be found within me!!!

David Hall

I surely did omg he was on his nees singing so much revance

37 More Replies...

Tidimalo Mokhokho

The first vocalist does really set the tone..His worship is soo passionate, Wow!I am challenged...

Thomas Gordo

Yeah he was feeling it

Samke Nqoko

He's the reason I keep coming back his line keeps playing in my head

EnuttSoSick

@Juan Lemons man Fill me up

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