Of all the hundreds of worship albums released each year, Matt Redman's usually tops the list of many fans and critics alike.  While many albums have come and have gone over the last year or so, Matt Redman's over a year-old "10,000 Reasons" is still lingering in the top 10 territory on iTunes' Christian chart.  Further, a year after its release, many churches are still circulating on heavy rotation the single "10,000 Reasons" in their worship repertoire.  According to Matt Redman, two alliterated factors are contributive to his patented sound: his songs are conterminously devotional as well as descriptive.  Some songs are so descriptive with theologically erudition that they feel more like a muddy essay written by a first year seminary student rather than something congregants can sing to.  Then you have the other extreme where worship songs are so devotionally syrupy that they sound more like bimbo-minded love songs devoid of any theological depth.   The worship songs of Redman consist of both.  Lyrically, they are meaty with lots of Scripturally-textured insights for us to sink our teeth in.  But they are also devotional in that they avail opportunities for us to release ourselves into God's awesome presence.  Redman's brand new record "Your Grace Finds Me" is no exception. 

"Your Grace Finds Me" is Redman's latest effort that was recorded at the LIFT Worship Leader Collective in Atlanta in front of 1,500 worship leaders.  Just like Redman's previous efforts, Redman has once again surrounded himself with the best of worship music's finest scribes as his co-writers and they include Chris Tomlin, Tony Wood, Kristian Stanfill, Nathan Nockels, Christy Nockels, Jonas Myrin and Jason Ingram.   And like all his previous eight album releases, the quotient of future worship staples is high.  Already gaining traction with many churches is the lead single and title cut "Your Grace Finds Me."  The verses are descriptive in detailing example after example of how God's grace is evident all around us:  from the birth of a newborn to the beauty of the sunrise to the unfolding of a wedding day to the weeping by the graveside.  While the chorus avails opportunities for us to express our devotion to God as we sing along with Redman: "from creation to the cross/from the cross to eternity/Your grace finds me."  If "Never Once" was the gem of Redman's last album "10,000 Reasons," "Mercy" is to his record.  "Mercy" is an incandescent piano ballad of worship revolving around the theme of the Cross of Jesus Christ.  Though Redman doesn't cover much new ground lyrically, the song has such a Spirited-anointing that just has a way of capturing us in worship. 

Fans who have come to love Redman's anthems that are big enough to rock a stadium yet have a way of sticking in our heads would love the pounding "Sing and Shout."  If "Jesus, Only Jesus" sounds familiar, it's because it first appeared earlier on Passion Conference's "Let the Future Begin."  Though it has the big guitar riffs and the "woo-oah" echoes that have become standard trademarks of today's worship numbers, the song is redeemed by its attention paid in its vivid description of the ministry of Jesus.  In providing a hefty backing of heightened guitar and drumming sounds for "Let My People Go," Redman pounds out God's challenge to all  the "Pharaohs" of today to stop abusing the weak, the helpless and the poor.  Such songs that tie social justice and worship together are not only Biblical, they also strike at what is at the core of worship.  Worship is never worship if it doesn't change how we treat others.

But lest one thinks of Redman as stringently formulaic in his anthemic worship style, he does get a tad adventurous with "This Beating Heart."  Taking a lesson from country-rocker Keith Urban, Redman has infused some banjo licks into his brand of Christian rock giving "This Beating Heart" an affective rustic organic feel.   While "Benediction" is reflective, relaxed and heartfelt as Redman prays for each one of us for God to bless us after we have gathered in worship; this is such an appropriate way to bring the record to a close.  What endears this U.K. native once again on this new record is his ongoing ability to create a worship experience for all of us: an experience that is cognitively descriptive giving us food for thought.  Yet, it is also gloriously edgy to the spiritually malleable making us bow in humble adoration before our gracious God.

Matt Redman - Your Grace Finds Me [Lyrics And Chords]