Inspiration Behind All Around You:
Back in the days when My Space was one of the top social media platforms, Lacey Sturm sent out a poll to her followers. This question asked who they would like to meet the most in life? The number one response was surprisingly God. Subsequently, Lacey wrote a song to capture the feeling of God’s omnipresence on earth. All Around Me highlights how meeting God in person would become a transformational event.
Biblical Application:
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” 38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons, Mark 1:35-39.
Exegesis of All Around Me:
My hands are searching for you
My arms are outstretched towards you
I feel you on my fingertips
My tongue dances behind my lips for you
This fire runs in through my being
Burning, I’m not used to seeing you
Lacey appears to begin her search for God in prayer. Although she doesn’t seem to be on her knees, Lacey is reaching out to the heavens, hoping to be touched by God. The lyrics at the end of this opening stanza expresses Lacey’s hunger and passion to meet God.
I’m still alive
I’m still alive
Either Lacey is talking about being alive or God declares that He is alive.
I can feel you all around me
Thickening the air I’m breathing
Holding on to all I’m feeling
Savoring this heart that’s healing
Lacey reveals the reason for this search for God, to heal her heart from a painful event in the past.
My hands float up above me
And you whisper you love me
And I begin to fade
Into our secret place
The music makes me sway
The angels singing say
“We are alone with you”
I am alone and they are too with you
Lacey reveals a spiritual encounter with God. After hearing a small still voice, a chorus of angels enter with a message of assurance that God’s presence is all around Lacey.
I’m still alive
I’m still alive
We’re still alive
Lacey, God and the angels are alive and well.
And I can feel you all around me
Thickening the air I’m breathing
Holding on to what I’m feeling
Savoring this heart that’s healing
Lacey can know feel and sense God’s presence after her encounter with an invisible God.
So I cry, holy
The light is white, holy
And I see you, holy
Lacey is overwhelmed with joy.
I’m alive
I’m still alive
We’re still alive
Excited to know the angels and God are all around her.
And I can feel you all around me
Thickening the air I’m breathing
Holding on to all I’m feeling
Savoring this heart that’s healing
Lacey is starting to experience a spiritual transformation as her heart is healing.
Take my hand, I give it to you
Now you own me all I am
You said you would never leave me
I believe you, I believe
Lacey is now placing her faith and trust in God.
I can feel you all around me
Thickening the air I’m breathing
Holding on to all I’m feeling
Savoring this heart that’s healed
Lacey believes that God will heal her heart and continue to watch over her life.
Final Thoughts:
My high school swim coach gave me an extra ticket to hear professional athletes from Philadelphia share about their faith. Like Lacey’s encounter with God, I was waiting to hear something earth shattering. Unfortunately, no one moved my soul until a man rolled up to the microphone in a wheelchair. After initially thinking, “what can this man share with me,” I began to be filled with the same burning passion that consumed Lacey. Skip spoke with a maturity that was foreign to me. Despite losing thousands of full scholarships to college following a water-skiing accident in high school, Skip had something inside of him that was missing from my life. Subsequently, before this night was over, I had my first encounter with God, asking Jesus to come into my heart. This is my testimony that God is all around me.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 