William McDowell - As We Worship Lyrics
Lyrics
Holy spirit we are calling on you
We are asking you to send the rain
When we worship in spirit and truth something happens
That we can't explain... demon's travel kings bow down
Lives are changed at the sound of your name
(when we lift our voices in praise
Let your glory fill this place...
As we bring this offering Jesus we crown
You as lord and king)
As we worship
[ad-lib worship leader]
Video
As We Worship
Meaning & Inspiration
William McDowell's "As We Worship," from his 2009 live album of the same name, is a powerful and direct invocation, deeply rooted in the transformative power of corporate worship. This isn't just a song; it’s a prayer, a desperate plea for divine intervention and presence. The opening lines immediately set a tone of earnest petition, calling upon the Holy Spirit with the explicit request for "rain." This "rain" is not literal precipitation but a profound metaphor for the refreshing, life-giving presence of God, mirroring the prophet Joel's pronouncement in Joel 2:23, "He will cause the early and late rains to fall for you, as he did at first." The lyrics articulate a core belief that when worship is offered "in spirit and truth," a tangible shift occurs, an experience that transcends human explanation, aligning with Jesus' words to the Samaritan woman in John 4:24, "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth." The song then enumerates the profound effects of this divine encounter: "demons travel, kings bow down, lives are changed." This echoes the scriptural accounts of how the power of God's presence, often manifested through worship and prayer, brought about supernatural liberation and submission, as seen in the silencing of demonic forces in Mark 1:23-27 and the humbling of powerful figures before God's might throughout scripture. The act of lifting voices in praise and offering is presented as a deliberate act of acknowledging God’s sovereignty and glory, a declaration that "Jesus we crown you as lord and king," a sentiment found throughout the Psalms where the people of Israel are exhorted to "give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever" (Psalm 107:1). The song's essence lies in its unwavering conviction that authentic worship is not merely an emotional expression but a potent spiritual force that invites God’s tangible glory to saturate a space and fundamentally alter circumstances. It’s an invitation to experience the fullness of God’s presence, a testament to the belief that in the act of sincere worship, God’s reign is visibly established, and transformation becomes not just possible, but inevitable.