Covenant Worship - Reside Lyrics
Lyrics
Verse 1
Fill this house
With gladness
Let Your joy run
Through my heart
Never ending goodness
Bound safely
Within Your arms
Tag
Bound safely
Within Your arms
Chorus
This is where I want to be
This is where I reside
This is where I want to be
This is where love resides
Verse 2
Can't explain
This love I feel
Constant as the rising Sun
Let it overwhelm me still
After all these years
Have gone
Tag
After all these years
Have gone
Chorus
This is where I want to be
This is where I reside
This is where I want to be
This is where love resides
Refrain
Where I want to be
Where I want to be
Verse 3
I will love You all my days
Never ending floods of praise
I will love You all my days
Generations will proclaim
Generations will proclaim
Generations will proclaim
Bridge
I will proclaim
The goodness of God
Chorus
This is where I want to be
This is where I reside
This is where I want to be
This is where love resides
This is where I want to be
Video
Reside feat. Josh and Mary Barnett | Covenant Worship
Meaning & Inspiration
Released on February 12, 2021, Covenant Worship's "Reside," featuring Josh and Mary Barnett, immediately establishes itself as a profound declaration of spiritual belonging and an earnest invitation into God's presence. Far beyond a simple worship tune, this song unpacks the intimate human yearning for a true home, revealing it to be found exclusively and eternally within the divine embrace. It's a testament to the peace discovered when one's spirit settles deeply into the unwavering love of the Creator, painting a picture of contentment that transcends earthly circumstances.
The core of "Reside" is a vibrant expression of the believer's desire for God to dwell within, transforming the inner self into a sanctuary of joy and goodness. The opening lines, inviting God to "Fill this house with gladness" and let "joy run through my heart," echo the scriptural promise of God making His home with us, as seen in John 14:23, where Jesus says, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." This personal dwelling becomes a place where "never ending goodness" is experienced, secured safely within God's arms, mirroring the assurance found in Deuteronomy 33:27 that "The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms." It speaks to a security and sufficiency that flows from an unbroken connection with the divine.
The chorus serves as the song's anchor, a recurring affirmation: "This is where I want to be, This is where I reside, This is where love resides." To "reside" implies a permanent, settled existence, a deliberate choice of dwelling. This isn't a fleeting visit or a temporary shelter, but the very place of one's being, their spiritual home. When the song declares that "love resides" here, it directly points to God Himself, for 1 John 4:8 unequivocally states, "God is love." Therefore, to reside where love resides is to make God one's eternal abode, the source and sustainer of all true affection and belonging. This concept aligns perfectly with Psalm 91:9, which declares, "Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—the Most High, who is my refuge."
The second verse delves into the ineffable nature of divine affection, confessing, "Can't explain this love I feel," a sentiment that resonates with Ephesians 3:19, which speaks of Christ's love that "surpasses knowledge." This love is then described as "constant as the rising Sun," a beautiful metaphor for God's unchanging faithfulness and mercy, which Lamentations 3:22-23 assures us are "new every morning; great is your faithfulness." The earnest plea to "Let it overwhelm me still, After all these years have gone" reflects a genuine longing for the initial passion and awe to endure, to not grow complacent in faith but to continually be captivated by God's presence, much like the exhortation in Revelation 2:4 to remember one's first love.
As the song progresses into its third verse, the focus shifts from receiving to responding: "I will love You all my days, Never ending floods of praise." This commitment to lifelong devotion and unceasing worship, a "flood of praise," echoes Psalm 145:7, "They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness." The declaration then expands beyond the individual, projecting a generational impact: "Generations will proclaim." This vision of a legacy of faith and testimony is deeply rooted in scripture, from Psalm 145:4, "One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts," to Psalm 78:4, which speaks of telling the coming generation "the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done."
The bridge, "I will proclaim the goodness of God," serves as a powerful personal and communal commitment, transforming the inner experience of joy and love into an outward declaration. It's an active response to God's presence, a calling to share the profound truth of His character with the world. This resonates with numerous biblical calls to witness and testify, such as in Psalm 107, which repeatedly exhorts, "Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!" "Reside" by Covenant Worship is more than a song; it’s an invitation to deep introspection and a robust affirmation of faith. It gently reminds us that true security, enduring joy, and unwavering love are found not in transient circumstances, but in the eternal embrace of God, where we are truly meant to make our home. This is a song designed to anchor weary souls and ignite passionate adoration, guiding hearts to their ultimate dwelling place.