Danny Gokey - If You Aint' In It Lyrics

Album: Rise
Released: 13 Jan 2017

iTunes Amazon Music

Lyrics

I’ve got things that I thought
Would fill my heart up, sittin’ on top winning
But that ain’t winning
I’ve chased all the good stuff, all the bad stuff
Stuff the world calls living
But that ain’t living

Hey don’t really matter what I do
Hey don’t mean nothin’ without You

I don’t wanna have it all
Write my story any way I want
Everything will just fall apart
If You ain’t in it
I don’t wanna get my way
No, I don’t wanna run this thing
Cause I know it all ends the same
If You ain’t in it
If You ain’t in it

I want all that You want
All that You’ve got
Point my heart toward You
I want You too

Hey nothing else is gonna matter
Hey if You’re not what I’m after

Here is my confession
I’m a man of imperfection
And my heart can go off chasin’ empty things
But You keep runnin’ toward me
Yeah cause You know what’s best for me
And You know You are the only one I need

I don’t wanna have it all
I don’t wanna have it all
If You ain’t in it

Video

Danny Gokey - If You Aint' In It

Meaning & Inspiration

Danny Gokey's "If You Ain't In It," released in 2017 as part of his album *Rise*, stands as a powerful testament to the core of Christian faith: the indispensable presence of God in every aspect of life. The song delves into the human tendency to chase worldly achievements and personal desires, only to discover their ultimate emptiness without divine alignment. Gokey eloquently expresses a profound realization that external success and self-determination, the very things the world often champions, are inherently hollow and destined to crumble if not anchored in God's will and presence. This sentiment resonates deeply with the biblical understanding that true fulfillment and purpose are found not in our own plans, but in surrendering to a higher power.

The lyrical narrative unfolds as a confession of past pursuits, acknowledging the allure of personal ambition and the "good stuff, all the bad stuff" that society deems living. However, the pivotal turning point is the understanding that these endeavors are ultimately meaningless if God is not the central focus. Gokey's honest admission, "I’m a man of imperfection / And my heart can go off chasin’ empty things," mirrors the constant struggle believers face against sin and distraction. Yet, the song pivots to the reassuring truth of God's persistent love and guidance. This echoes the promise found in Jeremiah 29:11, where God assures, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." The message is clear: our individual desires and even our perceived best interests are incomplete without the divine perspective.

The repetitive, yet crucial, refrain, "If You ain’t in it," emphasizes that even the grandest personal achievements or the most meticulously crafted life plans are ultimately destined for failure and dissatisfaction. This is directly aligned with the teachings of Jesus in Matthew 7:24-27, where He contrasts building a house on solid rock (obedience to His word) with building on sand (ignoring His teachings), highlighting the inevitable collapse of the latter. Gokey's desire to "want all that You want / All that You’ve got" and to "point my heart toward You" is a prayerful aspiration for alignment with divine purpose, a surrender to a plan far greater than our own. The song beautifully captures the essence of Ecclesiastes 1:14, which speaks of the futility of worldly pursuits under the sun, and the psalmist's declaration in Psalm 16:11, "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." "If You Ain't In It" is more than just a song; it's a resonant declaration of faith, reminding listeners that true life and lasting significance are found only when God is at the very center of it all.