Life can be so hard and sometimes it feels like I'm running on empty all I can do is pray and ask God to fill me with His strength and His Holy Spirit.

I realized last Easter season that I had not heard a song, to my knowledge, that encapsulated all of Holy Week, which is why I wrote this song! I wanted to create something that not only referenced all of the major components of Holy Week, but also illustrated how the Gospel applies to us as well!

I was inspired by the valleys of life & how when we’re there we only look to be on top of the mountain again & often we don’t appreciate that God is shaping & molding us during our trials. If you look at the Psalms of David, they weren’t all pretty & nice but he still knew God was faithful.

I chose this song because it was my first ever recorded song written entirely on one Sunday morning. I decided to stay home from service as I was not serving on team that week. All instruments and lyrics were arranged played and recorded by me as I said in just a few hours. The meaning of the song is as follows: Christians waste so much time chasing the wrong things in our walk, such as fame, fortune, and material objects, being noticed by the world; missing the meaning of being a true servant of the Lord. The last line of lyrical content is a plea for God to “come change my life (or way of thinking), so we can be used as He wants to use us.

I chose to submit "Before the King" because it beautifully captures the heart of worship—laying everything at the feet of Jesus and acknowledging Him as our sovereign King. The lyrics remind us to bring our burdens, praises, and lives before Him, knowing He restores and renews us. It reflects my desire to glorify God and lead others into His presence through song, declaring His authority and love.

I relate to this song so much. I go through times where I feel like I don't quite measure up, but then I hear these words and I realize I do matter to God. When I sing them, the feeling is even stronger.