Released 24th January 2025
Credits
- Joel Caws: Lyrics & Music, Vocals, Backing Vocals
- Kria McKenzie: Backing Vocals
- Eric Haley: Production
Downloads
Lyrics
Verse 1:
I can’t always see
The path ahead of me
I need Your light to guide
Direction You provide
Like Jesus in the storm
You see through it all
I do not need to fear
Your hand at work is clear
Chorus:
Illuminate my heart
Illuminate my mind
Let me shine the light
Of Your pure righteousness
The flame of God in me
I want the world to see
You’re illuminating me
You’re illuminating me
Verse 2:
When my eyes are blind
Distractions of our time
So easily I stray
From Your perfect ways
But time and time again
To Your cross my knee I’ll bend
My true and perfect guide
So clear and burning bright
Chorus
Bridge:
Light of the world, Light of the world
Come lead me
Spirit of peace, Spirit of peace
Come fill me
Shepherd of love, shepherd of love
Come guide me
Leader of hope, Leader of hope
Come lift me
Chorus
Behind the song
Back in 2020 I embarked on a journey that God was clearly placing before me. I was the reluctant traveller. Like Moses who told God at the burning bush he wasn’t the one to be sending, I was asking Him ‘Why me?’ surely there was someone better, more equipped, more capable, more gifted?
Over the years that have followed, I have been learning that God chooses us to be part of His plan, not because we are the best, the most confident or competent, but often, because we aren’t! It’s one of the wonderful mysteries of God that He chooses to use us with all our brokenness, self-doubt and weakness. He chooses to use us because He loves us, because He wants us to learn to lean on Him when we are weak, and to us succeed. Like an excited Dad at a kids football match rooting for their child, yelling “look at him go… did you see that? That’s my son/daughter!”
So, in 2020 I chose to step out and begin recording the songs He had been birthing in me. Honestly I had no clue what I was doing, or why, at first. Then one day, He took me to Matthew 5:14-15:
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.”
Those two verses were a revelation to me, and I set out to shine my light as brightly as I could, by spreading the songs He was giving me as far and wide as I was able.
5 years on I am still shining my light for Him. This song is my story.