Casting Crowns - Courageous Lyrics
Lyrics
We were made to be courageous
We were made to lead the way
We could be the generation
That finally breaks the chains
We were made to be courageous
We were made to be courageous
We were warriors on the front lines
Standing, unafraid
But now we're watchers on the sidelines
While our families slip away
Where are you, men of courage?
You were made for so much more
Let the pounding of our hearts cry
We will serve the Lord
We were made to be courageous
And we're taking back the fight
We were made to be courageous
And it starts with us tonight
The only way we'll ever stand
Is on our knees with lifted hands
Make us courageous
Lord, make us courageous
This is our resolution
Our answer to the call
We will love our wives and children
We refuse to let them fall
We will reignite the passion
That we buried deep inside
May the watchers become warriors
Let the men of God arise
We were made to be courageous
And we're taking back the fight
We were made to be courageous
And it starts with us tonight
The only way we'll ever stand
Is on our knees with lifted hands
Make us courageous
Lord, make us courageous
Seek justice
Love mercy
Walk humbly with your God
In the war of the mind
I will make my stand
In the battle of the heart
And the battle of the hand
In the war of the mind
I will make my stand
In the battle of the heart
And the battle of the hand
We were made to be courageous
And we're taking back the fight
We were made to be courageous
And it starts with us tonight
The only way we'll ever stand
Is on our knees with lifted hands
Make us courageous
Lord, make us courageous
We were made to be courageous
Lord, make us courageous
Video
Casting Crowns - Courageous [Official Music Video - HD]
Meaning & Inspiration
Casting Crowns' "Courageous," released on February 28, 2017, as part of the album *Just Be Held: Casting Crowns Favorites*, is a powerful anthem calling believers, particularly men, to a renewed sense of spiritual fortitude and active engagement in their faith and families. The song stems from a desire to see men step up as spiritual leaders, drawing a stark contrast between a past perceived as more warrior-like in faith and a present where, by the band's observation, complacency has set in, allowing "families slip away." This paints a picture of a generation needing to reclaim its God-given strength, echoing the scriptural mandate for leadership and protection within the family unit. The lyrics powerfully assert that believers were "made to be courageous" and are called to "lead the way," suggesting a divine design for active participation rather than passive observation in spiritual matters.
The core message of "Courageous" is a compelling call to repentance and resurgence, urging individuals to move from being mere observers to becoming active participants and defenders of their faith and loved ones. This resonates deeply with passages like Ephesians 6:10-11, which exhorts believers to "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" and to "put on the whole armor of God," emphasizing readiness for spiritual warfare. The song's plea, "Make us courageous, Lord, make us courageous," is a direct acknowledgment of human dependence on God for the strength to fulfill this calling, aligning with verses such as Philippians 4:13, which states, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Furthermore, the commitment to "love our wives and children" and the refusal "to let them fall" speaks to the biblical responsibilities of husbands and fathers as outlined in Ephesians 5:25-29, where husbands are called to love their wives as Christ loved the church, and in 1 Timothy 5:8, which states that anyone who does not provide for his own, and especially for his own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. The song also grounds this renewed courage in spiritual discipline, stating, "The only way we'll ever stand is on our knees with lifted hands," a profound testament to the power of prayer and humility in facing life's battles, as exemplified in James 4:10: "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up." The final exhortations to "seek justice, love mercy, walk humbly with your God" directly echo Micah 6:8, providing a scriptural framework for the type of courageous action the song champions – action rooted in righteousness, compassion, and dependence on divine guidance. The resolution to make a stand "in the war of the mind" and "in the battle of the heart and the battle of the hand" underscores the internal struggle and the need for a strong, Christ-centered identity to navigate the complexities of modern life and spiritual opposition.