Chris Falson - I Pray Lyrics
Lyrics
It don't take much for me to get in trouble
say something I will regret
I've got a real sharp tongue It can wound anyone
I struggle to forgive and forget
so I pray (I Pray) for some mercy
and through grace my eyes could see
I pray for the day when I can love somebody
the way that you love me
yeah, the way that you love me (I pray yeah)
It don't take much for me to judge a brother
I can make sinner out of a saint
but when I condemn the man I don't understand
I reveal more of my own complaint
It don't make much for me to gossip and slander
and defame the name of some poor child
yeah I'm shallow and I'm weak I got a real mean streak
there's a longer list that you could compile
It don't take much for me to be self righteous
and look down my nose at everyone
but I'm a poor disguise for the holy and wise
a mere candle compared to the sun
Video
I Pray (feat. John Schreiner, Pattie Howard & Linda McCrary) (feat. Linda McCrary, John...
Meaning & Inspiration
Released on September 14, 2016, Chris Falson's "I Pray" emerges as a profoundly honest and introspective musical confession, laying bare the deeply human struggles with sin and the inherent need for divine intervention. The song is not merely a recounting of personal flaws; it stands as a desperate, yet hopeful, plea for transformation, articulated through a raw acknowledgement of inner failings and a yearning for God’s perfect love and grace. It’s a lyrical journey into the heart of a believer grappling with their own imperfections, recognizing the chasm between human weakness and divine perfection, and praying for the bridge of mercy to span that divide.
The core meaning of "I Pray" revolves around a courageous act of self-examination and repentance, vividly illustrating the constant spiritual battle within. The lyrics open with a startling admission of a "sharp tongue" that can "wound anyone," confessing a struggle to "forgive and forget." This immediately draws parallels to the wisdom found in Scripture regarding the power of words, reminding us that the tongue can indeed be a "restless evil, full of deadly poison" (James 3:8). The immediate prayer for "mercy" and the longing for eyes that "could see" through "grace" is a direct echo of our need for God's unmerited favor, as taught in Hebrews 4:16, where we are encouraged to "draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." The repeated desire to "love somebody the way that You love me" encapsulates the ultimate Christian aspiration – to emulate the selfless, unconditional *agape* love exemplified by Christ, a love described in 1 John 4:7-8 as originating from God Himself.
Falson continues his poignant self-critique, revealing a tendency to "judge a brother" and "make a sinner out of a saint," acknowledging that such condemnation often "reveal[s] more of my own complaint." This profound insight perfectly aligns with Jesus’s teaching in Matthew 7:3-5, where He asks, "Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?" The song bravely points out the hypocrisy inherent in human judgment, reminding us that our critical gaze often reflects our own unresolved issues and insecurities. Furthermore, the admission of readiness to "gossip and slander" and "defame the name of some poor child" underscores a pervasive societal failing, a sin frequently cautioned against in Proverbs 11:13 and 1 Timothy 5:13. The line, "Yeah I'm shallow and I'm weak I got a real mean streak," is a vulnerable confession of an internal battle, an honest appraisal of human frailty that resists spiritual platitudes and instead embraces the difficult truth of one's sinful nature. This humility is a necessary precursor to receiving God's transforming power, as "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6).
The song culminates with an equally striking confession of self-righteousness, a tendency to "look down my nose at everyone." This posture, so antithetical to the spirit of Christ, is exposed as a "poor disguise for the holy and wise," beautifully contrasted with the powerful metaphor of being "a mere candle compared to the sun." This imagery speaks volumes about our utter dependence on God's righteousness, not our own. We are reminded that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23), and any perceived goodness within us is but a faint reflection of the true Light, Jesus Christ (John 1:9). The profound realization conveyed through the song is that true holiness is not achieved through self-effort or moral superiority, but through an ongoing reliance on God's mercy and grace, which alone can transform our "mean streak" into a "love like His." "I Pray" is ultimately an inspiring anthem of hope, not despair, a testament to the power of authentic prayer and the enduring promise that when we humbly acknowledge our need, God is faithful to meet us with His unfailing love and sanctifying grace, inviting us to become more like the One who loves us perfectly.