Audrey Assad - New Every Morning Lyrics

New Every Morning - Audrey Assad

New Every Morning Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration

Audrey Assad's song "New Every Morning" offers a profound meditation on God's redemptive history, moving through key moments of salvation and culminating in a personal encounter with divine grace. The lyrics structure a narrative beginning at the very start, referencing the opening chapters of Genesis where God creates light out of darkness and forms humanity in His image. This sets the stage by establishing the original perfect order and humanity's intended relationship with the Creator, highlighting the power of God's word to bring existence and order into being, breaking silence and darkness.

The narrative then swiftly confronts the reality of the fall, the moment humanity chose darkness over light, resulting in shame and separation. This transition from the initial state of nakedness without shame to the state of night underscores the dramatic consequence of sin. However, this darker turn serves as a backdrop to introduce the central, recurring theme of the song: God's mercies. The repetition of "Your mercies are new, new every morning" acts as an anchor, a constant reassurance drawn from Lamentations 3:22-23, declaring the unfailing nature of God's compassion and faithfulness despite human failure. This promise of renewed mercy is presented as a daily reality, fresh and available regardless of yesterday's darkness.

The lyrics progress into the New Testament narrative, referencing the incarnation as told in the Gospel of John: "In the beginning, there was the Word and he was God... And he dwelt among us." This highlights the divine nature of Christ and His decision to enter human existence, bringing "life" into the fallen world. This section seamlessly transitions to the atonement, identifying the Incarnate Word as the "Lamb of God" broken and whose blood was poured out for the sins of the world. This sacrificial act at the cross is presented as the source of renewed life and the ultimate demonstration of the mercy that is new every morning.

The song's climax and personal application arrive with the lines, "At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw your light / At the cross, at the cross, I received my sight." This draws on traditional hymnody and speaks to the transformative power of the crucifixion from a personal perspective. It signifies spiritual awakening, receiving understanding and salvation through faith in Christ's sacrifice. The light seen at the cross contrasts with the "darkness" and "night" mentioned earlier, presenting the cross as the pivotal point where the effects of the fall are overcome, and spiritual blindness is healed. The constant return to the chorus emphasizes that the redemptive work of Christ and the daily provision of God's mercy are inextricably linked, available continuously to those who come to the cross. The song, through its contemplative structure and lyrical depth, serves as a powerful reminder of the expansive scope of God's grace, from creation to personal redemption, culminating in the hopeful declaration that mercy is not a one-time event but a daily, renewable gift.