Lyrics
Verse 1
When I think upon your goodness;
And Your faithfulness each day
I'm convinced it's not because I am worthy
to receive the kind of love that You give.
But I'm grateful for your mercy,
and I'm grateful for your grace
And because of how You've poured out Yourself,
I have come to sing this song out in praise
Chorus
Imela, Imela
Okaka, Onyekeruwa
Imela, Imela,
Eze m Oh
(Thank You Jesus)
Verse 2
Who am I to sing Your praises?
Who am I to worship You?
It's Your blood that makes the difference in me
And made a way to enter into Your throne
I could not come near Your presence
I could never sing Your song
But the sacrifice on Calvary's tree
is the reason I can cry out today
Chorus (Repeat)
Bridge
Onyedikagi? Ekene diri gi
Onyene mema
Onyedikagi? Ekene diri gi
Onye nagworia
Note
Imela means thank you
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
"IMELA (Thank You)" is a worship song whose title, an Igbo word for thank you, sets the tone for a sustained expression of gratitude rooted in unworthiness met by grace. The first verse states plainly that any love received is not a result of personal merit, crediting mercy and grace alone before resolving into praise. The second verse repeats a rhetorical question, who is worthy to sing God's praises or approach His presence, before answering it directly: the blood of Christ, not personal qualification, makes access possible. That answer ties the song's gratitude to a specific event, the sacrifice at Calvary, rather than leaving thankfulness as a vague feeling. The chorus and bridge shift into Igbo, repeating short titles and expressions of thanks and honor, extending the same gratitude across languages rather than confining it to English. Structurally the song moves from personal reflection to theological reasoning to multilingual praise, framing thankfulness as a response to a specific, costly act rather than general goodwill.
Related Scripture
- Hebrews 10:19 Describes boldness to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, matching the lyric about being made a way into God's throne.
- Ephesians 2:8 Describes salvation as a gift of grace, not something earned, matching the verse's confession of unworthiness met by grace.
- Revelation 5:9 Describes the Lamb as worthy because He was slain and purchased people by His blood, matching the song's reasoning from Christ's sacrifice.