In my own life, and I know for many others’ as well, 2020 has been an absolute roller coaster. I just released a brand-new album with Gateway Music titled “All Glory,” and I had so been looking forward to releasing it. And also, in January I asked my girlfriend’s dad if I could have his daughter’s hand in marriage, and he said yes! We got engaged in February and began all the exciting phases of wedding planning before COVID-19 suddenly struck and has seemingly taken over the world, causing me to hit pause on some of the most monumental things I’ve ever done in my life. I’ve even had some distant family members contract the virus and end up seriously hospitalized — and although they live out of state, for me this thing is hitting a little too close to home.
So the big questions I keep asking myself deep down is, “How do I stay steady right now? How do I stay full in my spirit? And how in the world do I thrive when the world has seemingly been thrown off its axis and into chaos?”
The one thing I keep going back to is what Paul said in Ephesians 2:6, “For He (the Father) raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.” In times like this, it is really good to know that my spirit man, the most important part of my being that has been born again (John 3:1-21), is at this very moment seated alongside God and is united with Him where He is in Heaven. This is a deep deep thought — but it sure highlights the importance of being born again — and in unprecedented times like these, it is sure good to know (thanks to the Holy Spirit) that I can hold onto this truth over all others.
As I listen back to some of the songs I wrote with some good friends of mine for this album I just released, one thing I can’t help but notice is that so many of these songs remind me of the worship that happens in Heaven as recorded by John in Revelation chapters 4 and 5. This is in no way a sales pitch, but I want to encourage you to fill your home and your heart with songs like these during this time. Whether it’s my album or somebody’s else’s, I believe it is vitally important as believers that we fill our hearts and homes with the kind of worship that John said is happening in Heaven right now. COVID-19 is begging for us to dwell in fear, but what we really need to do is fill our atmospheres with Ephesians 2:6-worship that focuses on the eternal, immovable, unshakable and steadfast King that we serve.
1 Samuel 30:6 talks about a time when young King David was in great danger and had much to fear, but he “ found strength (encouraged Himself) in the Lord his God.” I believe as we begin to focus on Heaven while the world begs for us to focus on fear, we will find the sustaining strength that we need and emerge from this season stronger in the Lord than ever before.
God bless you!
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About Phil King:
For much of the last decade, Phil King honed his craft, working with Jennie Lee Riddle (“Revelation Song”), Leeland, Lauren Daigle and many other influential singers and songwriters. He also sang on two Michael W. Smith albums when he was younger and traveled with him as a vocalist. King further released his pro-life anthem “Not Forgotten,” which was written last year in response to a New York law that permitted late-term abortions. The song caught the attention of FOX News, CBN, EWTN and Focus on the Family, which tapped King to lead the song as the closing anthem for 20,000 people in Times Square at its “Alive from New York,” the largest pro-life event ever held in New York City.
Hailing from Turlock, CA and now based in Dallas, King has led worship at conferences around the world, written a book on worship and released an independent album, Giants & Oceans, in 2014. After leading the worship department at Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas, he is now a full-time worship pastor at Gateway Church. His aim is to carry the Presence of God everywhere he goes and the message of loving God with all that we are. the music artistry of Gateway Church. The album is available now at digital and streaming outlets globally through the link, https://smarturl.it/AllGlory-PhilKing.