STOP LOOKING OUT THERE

I spent my whole life looking to the sky

Searching for a God I thought was passing by

Running to the mountains, running to the stone

Never realizing I was never alone

I bowed before the symbols made by human hands

Followed all the customs, tried to understand

But every road I traveled led me back again

To the quiet voice that always lived within

I was chasing shadows on the wall

Looking for a distant call

Then the truth broke through the night

Love was standing in the light

Stop looking out there

Stop searching everywhere

The kingdom is closer than you ever knew

God’s love is alive in you

Not in statues made of stone

Not in places called your own

The Spirit is whispering, “I’m here with you”

Stop looking out there

Start looking through

Some look to a building reaching to the sky

Some look to traditions hoping they’ll get by

Some wait for tomorrow, some wait endlessly

While the Father’s love is setting people free

A cross can tell a story, but it cannot love

A picture cannot comfort when the road gets rough

The evidence of heaven isn’t what you see

It’s the peace and mercy growing faithfully

When forgiveness fills your heart

That’s where heaven truly starts

When compassion lights the way

The kingdom shines today

Stop looking out there

Stop searching everywhere

The kingdom is closer than you ever knew

God’s love is alive in you

Not in rituals and fear

Not in promises far from here

The Spirit is whispering, “I’m here with you”

Stop looking out there

Start looking through

Love is the temple

Mercy is the sign

Peace is the evidence

That God is alive

Kindness is the language

Faithfulness the song

The fruit of the Spirit

Has been here all along

No more chasing shadows

No more living blind

The treasure that you’re seeking

Was never hard to find

Stop looking out there

The answer isn’t there

The kingdom is living and breathing in you

And love is revealing the truth

Not in objects made by men

But in hearts born once again

The Spirit keeps saying, “I’ve always been near”

Stop looking out there

The God you were searching for

Was never far away

He was waiting in every act of love

Every moment of grace

Stop looking out there…

And start walking in the light.