Matthew West - Open Wide My Heart Lyrics
Lyrics
How many times can a heart be defeated,
before it decides to give in?
How many times can a soul be mistreated,
before being locked up then?
Some days I wish I could make myself cry,
and I wonder if maybe if this well has run dry
But just when I think my emotions succumbed unto fear
CHORUS:
That's when You open wide my heart,
I can see it, You open wide my heart,
and I know just the touch of Your hand
lets the healing begins
I see Your river of love rushing in,
when You open wide my heart
You say I stand at the foot of this mountain
pray for the courage to climb
When I am weary lead me to the fountain
that quenches my thirst every time
Lord you are the water my reason to live
when I feel like I have nothing more left to give
Oh and just when I think I've fallen too far from your grace
That's when You open wide my heart,
I can see it, You open wide my heart,
and I know just the touch of Your hand
lets the healing begins
I see Your river of love rushing in,
when You open wide my heart
When I fall down, You lift me up again
Lose my ground, You bring me back again
Lost and found, I feel alive again
That's when You open wide my heart,
I can see it, You open wide my heart,
and I know just the touch of Your hand
lets the healing begins
I see Your river of love rushing in,
when You open wide my heart
Here I stand at the foot of this mountain
and pray for the courage to climb
Video
Matthew West - The God Who Stays (Official Music Video)
Meaning & Inspiration
"Open Wide My Heart," a profound offering from Matthew West's 2019 album "The God Who Stays," released on July 26th, 2019, invites listeners into a deeply personal and transformative journey of surrender. This isn't merely a song; it's a heartfelt plea, a musical prayer that echoes the psalmist's cry, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23-24). West's powerful message centers on the willingness to lay bare one's innermost being before the divine, acknowledging that true freedom and a life lived in accordance with God's will are found not in self-protection or hidden desires, but in complete, unreserved openness.
The underlying theme of "Open Wide My Heart" resonates with the biblical command to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). It speaks to a profound vulnerability, a conscious decision to dismantle the walls we erect around ourselves, often out of fear or pride, and allow God's light and truth to penetrate every corner. This act of surrender is not a sign of weakness, but rather a testament to the strength found in trusting God's perfect love and guidance. It mirrors the Apostle Paul's exhortation in Romans 12:1, where he urges believers to present their bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, which is their spiritual act of worship. West’s vulnerability in this song encourages a similar courage in the listener, prompting reflection on where we might be holding back, where our hearts remain closed, and what God might be calling us to reveal and release for a deeper walk of faith. The song beautifully articulates the paradox of gain through loss: in opening ourselves fully to God, we discover a richer, more authentic self, liberated from the burdens of pretense and the anxieties of concealment. It’s a call to embrace the transformative power of God’s presence, allowing Him to shape and refine us into the people He created us to be, all for His glory.