Chris Tomlin’s newest album And If Our God Is For Us…” will be released next week.
What the popular worship leader wants to remind people of through the album is that if God is for you, everything is possible.
Explaining the significance of the album’s title, Tomlin said, “The dot dot dot is pretty important to me because it kind of leaves the sentence open ended. What I want people to see [is] that if that's true, then everything is possible.
“Those aren't my words. It's Scripture. Scripture tells us that God is for you and nothing can stop you.”
The album was originally named Expectation, the singer/songwriter said. But at the end of the day, the statement “And if God is for us” kept coming back to him and he wanted to point people back to God who is greater.
Ahead of the album’s release, already his single “I Will Follow” has charted at No. 10 on AC Indicator, No. 19 on AC Monitored, and No. 16 on National Christian Audience chart. The Grammy nominee and Dove Award winner collaborated with Jason Ingram and Reuben Morgan for the song.
“I really love this song. It's such a huge thing to say,” Tomlin said.
“The production is so great because there’s so much energy; the beat's so huge, right in your face, and that can sometimes hide a little bit of what you're saying because you get lost in that,” he noted. “But that chorus is saying some huge things. God, who you love, I'll love – that's not an easy statement; who you serve, I'll sever; wherever you go, I'll go; even if I lose my life I'll follow you.”
It’s been ten years since Tomlin made his debut with his first album. Time magazine has referred to him as “the most often sung artist anywhere.” He has garnered three Grammy nominations, 16 Dove Awards, a platinum and two gold albums. He was awarded Male Vocalist at the 2006, 2007, and 2008 GMA Dove Awards. He was also named Artist of the Year in 2007.
The influential worship leader expressed gratitude that he is still able to make music and get people excited to worship.
For his new album, Tomlin said he wanted to take a step and not be “just same-o.” He has also collaborated with Dan Muckala and the legendary Ed Cash on the new record.
While many of the songs have a rejoicing theme, ”I Lift My Hands” is not the typical worship song some may expect.
”’I Lift My Hands’ is a title you would expect on a worship leader's album. [But] this is just coming from a different place,” Tomlin explained.
The inspiration for the song comes from Psalm 28:2 – “Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.” The song comes from a place of struggle and is a cry to God at times when you can barely hold your hands up, he noted. But out of that struggle, the song repeats “let faith arise.”
Along with his musical career, Tomlin is actively involved in ministry and reaching out to young adults. He travels to various cities with Louie Giglio, Matt Redman and others as part of the Passion movement.
