By Michaela Gordoni
Matthew West recently shared with Kirk Cameron why it’s important to keep praying and prioritize faith over feelings.
“When you’ve cried and you’ve cried ’til your tears run dry, the answer won’t come, and you don’t know why, and you wonder if you can bow your head even one more time, do it one more time,” the singer told Cameron on an episode of TAKEAWAYS. “Cause if you rely on your feelings, there’s gonna be moments where your feelings tell you, ‘Prayer doesn’t work.’”
“Your feelings tell you, ‘What’s the point? There’s a ceiling up there, and that’s as far as your prayers are gonna go, and they’re gonna bounce back down.’ But faith extends beyond that feeling and turning into that act of like, obedience, and I’m going to continue to pray,” West explained.
West believes it’s critical that faith extends beyond feelings. It’s important to go back to what the Bible says and believe its words. He pointed out that in James, it says that God will draw close to you if you draw close to him.
“What if our decision to pray is the decision to say, ‘You know what? God being close to me is enough. That’s what I need and he’s going to carry me through whatever it is I’m going through.’ In his own time, he will work all things for the good.”
This mentality is what inspired West to create his song, “Don’t Stop Praying” and album of the same name, which he released last year. Some of the lyrics read:
Don’t stop praying
Don’t stop calling on Jesus name
Keep on pounding on heaven’s door
Let your knees wear out the floor
Don’t stop believing
Related: Matthew West Encourages Followers to ‘Keep Praying Just Like Daniel Did’
‘Cause mountains move with just a little faith
And your Father’s heard every single word you’re saying
So, don’t stop praying
West wrote the song with Jeff Pardo, who’s written with Anne Wilson, Toby Mac, Katy Nichole and many other Christian artists. The song also kicked off a brief “Don’t Stop Praying Tour” last year.
West shared he wrote the song for everyone who’s felt like they have lost their faith, and it’s a message to himself, too.
“The songs are almost mission statements for me and help keep me on track,” he said last year. “They remind me of my purpose.”
West ultimately wants everyone to know that “God hears the prayers of His people, so don’t stop praying.”
Read Next: Coffee and Conversation with Matthew West!
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