ExpressYourself4Him

Evanescence – My Immortal (Official HD Music Video)

Inspiration Behind My Immortal:

My Immortal was inspired by an emotional story of loss and memory. The fictional story guided two teenagers, Ben Moody to write the lyrics while Amy Lee composed the music. My Immortal was eventually updated for Evanescence, refined into a haunting power ballad about a lingering spirit. When you are young, teens think they are invincible until human tragedy opens your eyes to mortality.

Biblical Application:

I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. ⁵¹ Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— ⁵² in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. ⁵³ For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. ⁵⁴ When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory,” 1 Corinthians 15:50-54.

Exegesis of My Immortal:

[Verse 1]
I’m so tired of being here
Suppressed by all my childish fears
And if you have to leave
I wish that you would just leave
‘Cause your presence still lingers here
And it won’t leave me alone

A teenager who is worn down by anxiety, fear and worry. Losing the will to press on in life. Tormented by a demonic spirit overwhelming her soul, possibly the demon of depression.

[Pre-Chorus]
These wounds won’t seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There’s just too much that time cannot erase

The spirit is suffocating any joy left for living.

[Chorus]
When you cried, I’d wipe away all of your tears
When you’d scream, I’d fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have all of me

A reference to the fictional story that inspired this song. Two friends helping one another get through the pain of growing up.

[Verse 2]
You used to captivate me by your resonating light
Now I’m bound by the life you left behind
Your face, it haunts my once pleasant dreams
Your voice, it chased away all the sanity in me

A positive influence which uplifted this teenage soul. Reference to a death, possible suicide. Struggling to accept this reality, wondering why this had to happen.

[Pre-Chorus]
These wounds won’t seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There’s just too much that time cannot erase

Time still haven’t healed the pain deep inside their heart.

[Chorus]
When you cried, I’d wipe away all of your tears
When you’d scream, I’d fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have all of me

Recalling a caring friend who is no longer around. A best friend who either passed away or was forced to move.

[Bridge]
I’ve tried so hard to tell myself that you’re gone
But though you’re still with me
I’ve been alone all along

Their friend is alive but is not the same. Subsequently, this woman feels alone with no one to share her pain.

[Chorus]
When you cried, I’d wipe away all of your tears
When you’d scream, I’d fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have all of me, ah

I’m still here for you if you let me back in.

[Outro]
Me, ah
Me, ah

A loss for words or a call for help.

Final Thoughts:

I lived in the same house for 16 years so when my father was forced to transfer to Ohio, this was tough. Although I was in college at the time, the friends that I grew close to were now hundreds of miles away. I did write letters for a couple of years until most of these relationships faded away. I was able to make new friends at work, but this close fellowship that I shared slowly grew cold. I pray that one day I’ll be reunited with many of these individuals in heaven. However, for now as a grapple with my own mortality, I’m taking one day at a time to see what God has in store for me.

by Jay Mankus

Casting Crowns – Waiting on the Night to Fall (Official Lyric Video)

Waiting on the Night to Fall was conceived from a real-life encounter that Mark Hall had with a former addict in his church. The lyrics address the concept that sin often occurs under the cover of darkness. Whether outside at night or in a secluded room, human begins think that no one is watching as they give into temptation. Unfortunately, the more you give into fleshly desires, the hardest it becomes to break this addiction.

Biblical Application:

What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”^{[b] 8} But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead. ⁹ Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. ¹⁰ I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. ¹¹ For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. ¹² So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good, Romans 7:7-12.

Exegesis of Waiting on the Night to Fall:

There’s an old man livin’ in the back of your woods tonight
You forgot he was even there, but you’ve never slipped his mind
He’s livin’ off of scraps of you, you never knew you left behind
And as the sun goes down, he rises with a smile

This is either referring to a man recovering from addiction or a source of temptation that you haven’t purged from your life. Stumbling blocks that were never removed. Illustrating the power of addiction, going back time after time.

He’s waiting on the night to fall
The old man’s comin’ to call
But you don’t see the writing on the wall
He’ll never step out in the light
No, he’s just biding time
And while you slumber, he’s gonna come and take it all
He’s waiting on the night to fall
He’s waiting on the night to fall

Symbolic of the demonic influences that exist in an addict’s life. They do fine most of the day, but when they are alone at night, temptation is too strong to resist, falling prey to this spiritual slumber.

He knows you have the answers, but truth lies dusty on your shelf
And the sword that you could slay him with has become an ornament and nothin’ else
You could put him back down in his hole in the ground, but he knows you never will
He’s been around so long, you got used to the smell

A Christian who has stopped reading the Bible, forgetting how God wants him to live. The Sword of the Spirit isn’t activated as this Christian merely plays defense with the Devil. Addiction and bad habits have been around so long that he doesn’t realize how bad his faith stinks.

He’s waiting on the night to fall
The old man’s comin’ to call
But you don’t see the writing on the wall

A wake-up call for this addict.

He’ll never step out in the light
No, he’s just biding his time
And as you slumber, he’s gonna come and take it all
He’s waiting on the night to fall
He’s waiting on the night to fall

This trend must be halted, or you’ll continue to fall prey to addiction.

He knows he’ll never have your soul
But he will gladly rob you blind
While you’re feasting at his table, he’ll tie your hands and numb your mind
He’ll take you farther than you wanna go
He’ll keep you longer than you wanna stay
And it will cost you more than you ever thought you’d pay

Images of the spiritual battle for this man’s soul. Once you indulge sin, it always sticks around much longer than expected. These poor decisions get costlier as this sinful pattern continues.

He’s waiting on the night to fall
The old man’s comin’ to call
But you don’t see the writing on the wall
He’ll never step out in the light
He’s just biding his time
And as you slumber, he’s gonna come and take it all
He’s waiting on the night to fall
He’s waiting on the night to fall

Another warning to this man repeating the same bad habits day after day. You have to wake up from this spiritual slumber so that you are set free from addiction.

He’s waiting on the night
He’s waiting on the night to fall
The old man’s comin’ to call
But you don’t see, you don’t see the writing on the wall
Oh, he’s waiting on the night
He’s waiting on the night to fall
He’s waiting on the night to fall

A last call, warning this man to get ready for the temptations that you’ll likely encounter tonight. Be alert, awake and sober so that this time you’ll refrain from backsliding.

Final Thoughts:

One of my spiritual mentors in college shared a similar message as Waiting on the Night to Fall. Tommy shared that sin is like an unwelcomed friend who stays around much longer than expected. Sin then becomes an accepted part of your life where you feel like you can’t live without. Finally, the cost of sinful endeavors can have lasting consequences. This includes losing your family, friends, fortune and your dignity. This is what Jesus meant by John 10:10 where the thief, the Devil, seeks to steal your joy, kill all your dreams and destroy your life.

by Jay Mankus

Silverline ** “Voices in the Night” **Official Music Video**

Inspiration Behind Voices in the Night:

Voices in the Night addresses everyday struggles encountered by being “in the world, not of the world.” Outside of church doors, there are various voices in the form of conforming to societal norms, peer pressure, and temptation. Silverline uses their second album to highlight the distractions that Christians will encounter in life. How you respond to these voices will ultimately dictate your eternal future.

Biblical Application:

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. ¹⁵ The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.^[f] And by him we cry, “Abba,^[g] Father.” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. ¹⁷ Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory, Romans 8:14-17.

Exegesis of Voices in the Night:

In a world created
Dreams are replaced with fear
Truth gone up in flames
Smells like death in thee air
Forsake it all for nothing
He carried his cross and rein

The voices in your head and from this world can replace dreams with nightmares. Truth can be watered down or destroyed. This is why God sent Jesus to die on a cross.

We are the chosen few
Rise it up to say
We are the voices in the night
We will not be silent
We won’t back down
We’ll stand and fight

A call to stand up to these evil, negative and supernatural voices. Stand up to become the light of the world.

We are the voices in the night
All the fields are for harvest
All day and they waste away
You hear the voice of God
But still you’re unchanged
Forsake what you created
Why are you running away
The daylights fading fast now
Rise up and say

Quoting the words of Jesus that there is a spiritual harvest ready but the servants are few. When God speaks to you through the power of the Holy Spirit, how are you not transformed. Instead you are abandoning God like the prodigal.

We are the voices in the night
We will not be silent
We won’t back down
We’ll stand and fight

A call to Christians to become positive voices in the night to guide people toward Jesus.

We are the voices in the night
Truth is not created
Its all around
Seek the Lord
Why he may be found
We will not be silent
We won’t back down
We’ll stand and fight
We are the voices in the night

Truth comes from God’s Word, the Bible. Christians should be voices for God, no longer sitting quietly or standing on the sidelines of life. This is the call.

Final Thoughts:

In this world of political correctness and the fear of being cancelled, churches and Christians have decided to be silent on controversial issues. Rather than risking offending others, Christians have fled to secure places. When you know something is wrong and you don’t speak up, you’ll failing to obey your calling as a concerned citizen. Christians need to become beacons of light to guide the lost toward Jesus, Matthew 5:14-16.

by Jay Mankus