Oh God, we need a heart revival
We long for a soul awakening
A hope to wake us from our sleeping
To see You resurrecting everything
Like the winter turns to spring
Like the deserts turn to streams
You're doing a new thing
You're doing a new thing
Like the rain on thirsty ground
Holy Spirit pour it out
You're doing a new thing
You're doing a new thing
Come now, lead us into freedom
Cause we don't want to stay the same
Oh God, You turn our mourning into dancing
With You the old has passed away
Like the winter turns to spring
Like the deserts turn to streams
You're doing a new thing
You're doing a new thing
Like the rain on thirsty ground
Holy Spirit pour it out
You're doing a new thing
You're doing a new thing
Look around at all You've done
The old has gone the new has come
You'll finish what You started
Finish what You started
We have tasted, we believe
There's so much more we're gonna see
You'll finish what You started
Finish what You started
Look around at all You've done
The old has gone the new has come
You'll finish what You started
Finish what You started
We have tasted, we believe
There's so much more we're gonna see
You'll finish what You started
Finish what You started
Like the winter turns to spring
Like the deserts turn to streams
You're doing a new thing
You're doing a new thing
Like the rain on thirsty ground
Holy Spirit pour it out
You're doing a new thing
You're doing a new thing
We see you do it
We see you do it
Come, Lord Jesus! - Louie Giglio
New Thing Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
The song "New Thing" by Passion City Church centers on the theme of spiritual revival and God's ongoing work of transformation in the lives of believers and the world. It opens with a heartfelt plea for a "heart revival" and a "soul awakening," acknowledging a spiritual weariness or 'sleeping' and expressing a deep longing to witness God's power to "resurrecting everything." This initial stanza establishes a posture of dependence and expectation, setting the stage for the declaration of God's active presence.
A central motif throughout the song is the use of powerful natural metaphors to illustrate God's transformative action. The change "Like the winter turns to spring" and "Like the deserts turn to streams" vividly portrays a shift from barrenness and dormancy to life and abundance. These images are presented as evidence of God "doing a new thing," a phrase that echoes prophetic promises of renewal and restoration. Similarly, the image of "rain on thirsty ground" followed by the call for the "Holy Spirit pour it out" connects physical refreshment to spiritual outpouring, highlighting the Holy Spirit's role in bringing this newness.
The lyrics move from a corporate plea to a personal declaration of desire for change and freedom, stating, "we don't want to stay the same." This reinforces the theme of transformation as a personal experience facilitated by God, specifically noting how He can "turn our mourning into dancing," a biblical image of joy replacing sorrow. The assertion "With You the old has passed away" signifies the completeness of God's work in discarding the past and establishing something fresh and new, often associated with the regenerative power of faith.
A foundational element of the song is the declaration of God's faithfulness to complete what He starts. The repeated lines, "Look around at all You've done / The old has gone the new has come / You'll finish what You started," draw confidence from God's past actions while looking forward to the fulfillment of His purposes. This aligns with scriptural assurance that God is faithful to His promises and will bring His work to completion in those who trust Him. The lines "We have tasted, we believe / There's so much more we're gonna see" speak to a personal experience of God's goodness ("tasted") which fuels faith and anticipation for future manifestations of His power and grace.
The song culminates in a confident declaration of seeing God's work unfold, repeating "We see you do it." This reinforces the immediacy and present reality of God's "new thing," not just as a future hope but as something actively happening. The song's structure, moving from longing and prayer to declaration and confident expectation, makes it suitable for corporate worship, serving as both a prayer for revival and an anthem of faith in God's transformative power. The context of a Passion City Church worship setting, potentially linked to events like the "Come, Lord Jesus!" gathering led by Louie Giglio, underscores its purpose in calling believers to acknowledge God's activity and participate in His ongoing work of renewal, grounded in themes of Christ's coming and the promise of His return.
