![]() Introducing it to my congregation, I would say something like the following. It could function well as a song of response to the sermon or a song of sending. I think this song fits great toward the end of a worship set. Scripture references that support the message of this song include Psalm 119:129-133, Proverbs 16:9, and Romans 11:33. We cannot explain the ways of God and the paths he leads us on, but no matter what we know he leads us out of grace and love because of what he showed us on the cross. “Fix my eyes on the unexpected.” Having faith in God means we follow Him no matter how unexpected the path may seem. The song also emphasizes the fact that we do not always know where God is going to take us. The imagery of “shadow step” means walking so close to God that we are walking in the shadow of his steps. It’s a prayer asking God to help us follow in his steps. ![]() Sure, you will not be able to show off your beautiful tenor voice, but more people will be able to sing along. If you are a male leading this song, I recommend keeping it in the key of E. When songs are led by a female like Taya Smith, I think it is unnecessary to change the key since men can comfortably sing an octave lower. I would recommend playing this song in the recorded key of E or maybe dropping it to the key of D. The melodic range is small, and the melody is simple to follow. However, there are some songs, such as “Shadow Step,” that I think are very singable. With that comes the downside of not everything being ideal for congregational singing. As I mentioned above, I love how Hillsong is pushing the stylistic boundaries of worship music. But that is not to discredit their approach to songwriting. The arrangements and melodies are a bit more complicated than I would prefer for leading the local church on Sunday morning. Lately, a significant portion of Hillsong United’s music is not ideal for congregational singing. ![]() I hope it helps you in discerning whether or not it will be a good fit for your church. I’ll unpack it both musically and theologically. The song that has jumped out to me is “Shadow Step” written by Joel Houston and Michael Guy Chislett. While I do not know the album super well, I have had some time to listen to it and begin discerning which songs would be a good fit for my church. I especially love their willingness to push the boundaries of what is considered “worship music.” I was excited when they released their new album “Wonder” a few weeks ago. Ten years later, they are still writing amazing worship songs for the church. “Hosanna,” “Break Free,” and “Lead Me to the Cross,” were some of the first songs I learned how to lead worship. I began listening to them back in 2007 when I was discovering a passion for worship leading in high school. If you are like me, you are a huge Hillsong United fan.
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