Steven Curtis Chapman - Next Five Minutes Lyrics
Lyrics
I can reminisce about the already
I can worry and fret about the not yet
But when it all comes down, and
It really, really comes down to the right now,
So right now
I'm living the next five minutes
Like these are my last five minutes
Cause I know the next five minutes
May be all I have
And after the next five minutes
Turn into the last five minutes
I'm taking the next five minutes
And start it all over again
Every morning God is given is precious
Every heartbeat, every breath I take
I'll never have them back once they've left us
There will never be another right now,
So right now
This is the day
This is the hour
This is the moment God has made
I'm living the next five minutes
Like these are my last five minutes
Cause I know the next five minutes
May be all I have
And after the next five minutes
Turn into the last five minutes
I'm taking the next five minutes
And start it all over again
I'm starting all over again
Gonna start it all over again
Video
Next Five Minutes
Meaning & Inspiration
Released in 2006 as part of the compilation album *Double Take: Steven Curtis Chapman*, "The Next Five Minutes" stands as a profound testament to embracing the present moment with fervent intentionality. The song’s genesis, while not extensively detailed in public accounts, resonates deeply with Chapman's established lyrical themes of faith, family, and the preciousness of life, often inspired by his own experiences and scriptural reflections. The central message of "The Next Five Minutes" is a powerful call to live each moment as if it were the last, not from a place of morbid fear, but from an awakened appreciation for the divine gift of time. Chapman urges listeners to transcend dwelling on past regrets or future anxieties, anchoring their focus squarely on the "right now." This unwavering attention to the present is framed as a conscious choice, a way of honoring the fleeting nature of existence and the constant provision of grace.
The song's core truth is deeply intertwined with scriptural wisdom, particularly the admonition to not boast about tomorrow, for we do not know what a day may bring forth, as written in Proverbs 27:1. Chapman’s perspective on "living the next five minutes like these are my last five minutes" echoes the spirit of Ecclesiastes, which repeatedly emphasizes the vanity of earthly pursuits and the importance of finding joy in one’s labor and in the present gifts from God, such as the fruit of one's hands. Furthermore, the lyrics’ acknowledgment that "every morning God is given is precious" and that "every heartbeat, every breath I take" are irreplaceable, directly aligns with the psalmist's profound understanding of God's intricate involvement in our creation and sustenance, as seen in Psalm 139:13-16, where David marvels at how God knit him together in his mother's womb. The recurring phrase, "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24), is powerfully invoked, though not explicitly quoted, as the song powerfully conveys the significance of the current moment as a divinely appointed opportunity. The concept of "starting it all over again" after each five-minute block transforms from a mere repetition into a spiritual discipline of renewed commitment and fresh perspective, mirroring the biblical concept of repentance and renewal offered through Christ, where in Him, every day can be a fresh start. This cyclical approach, born from the recognition of life’s brevity and God’s unceasing mercies, encourages a lifestyle of active engagement and gratitude, moving beyond passive observation to vibrant participation in the life God has so graciously provided.