Holy Spirit (You Are Welcome Here) -- Bryan and Katie Torwalt

 

Maybe they had at least tasted Him (as did the ancient songwriter David, see Psalm 34:8), even in an irregular way or on a special occasion, and had experienced all that He could do. (See reproduction of 17^th Century artwork Dove of the Holy Spirit by Gian Lorenzo Bernini here.) Bryan and Katie Torwalt called out to the “Holy Spirit (You Are Welcome Here)” because, as one could deduce by looking at what they eventually said to Him, they didn’t want Him to be just a vague suggestive force in their lives. No, they wanted to sense Him and all He could mean for them clearly, powerfully. It was transformation for which they were looking, and it did indeed begin with saying what they meant to Him in a new, unvarnished way. An older song seemed to be stuck in Bryan’s head, and that evidently played a part in spurring his and Katie’s conviction that they needed to listen to what the Spirit was urging them to do. He’s right here, so just acknowledge Him, and even more, tell Him you want Him to take over. That’s what the Torwalts had the audacity to invite Him to do. Do what David also voiced centuries ago, and see how He’ll respond.

 

The Torwalts had been thinking about writing a new Holy Spirit song for two years before they actually got serious and responded with a song in 2011. In an interview (see link to it below), Bryan related that an old classic (unnamed) Holy Spirit song became stuck in his head during this period, so that its words were on his lips frequently. Perhaps as a therapy to deal with this phenomenon, Bryan says he and his wife just became determined one day to bring a new Holy Spirit song into reality, one for their own era instead of the one that Bryan was constantly humming. A portion of the song happened rather spontaneously after they had secluded themselves in a room, and perhaps that was the spark their songwriting juices needed, for the remainder of the song emerged over the course of the next few weeks in various ways, including while they were together in their car. Bryan says it was basically a prayer that they voiced, a talk with the God-Spirit whom they wanted to invite into their consciences in a much more discernible way. ‘Awareness’ – that was what Katie said she and Bryan emphasized to others as they shared this desire openly. Sure, the Spirit is obviously with us, but are we always totally alert and responsive to His influence? Katie and Bryan said it was a ‘deep desire’ to have Him not just be present, but to fill and ‘overwhelm’ the believer with His being. So, these and other phrases and words like ‘nothing worth more/can compare’, ‘sweetest of love’, ‘flood this place’, ‘fill the atmosphere’, ‘overcome’, ‘shame is undone’, ‘heart becomes free’, ‘hunger’, and ‘experience the glory’ inhabit the lyrics they wrote.   

 

Bryan and Katie didn’t want to hold back, so the phrases they use are what we English speakers would define as those with a superlative nature. They were seeking the pinnacle experience, the summit of being with Him. Having Him is not just some routine, unremarkable, and predictable relationship. The last few words of the Torwalts’ lyrics include ‘deeper’, so what they suggest for the worshipper isn’t a casual affair. It could unsettle you, so best to prepare yourself. You could educate yourself with reading in your bible how He thrust forward His people, even into hazards that can make one hesitate or turn back if He weren’t present. You have to have been in the doldrums, probably, to really decide that you’d rather have the ‘glory’, the ‘overwhelm(ing)’, the ‘overcom(ing)’, and ‘sweetest’ Holy Spirit to radically change your lifestyle. So, honestly ask yourself – ‘Is my life dull, and am I ready to seek Him out’? The heavenly kingdom and what awaits the saved in the afterlife will not be dull – of that you can be sure. Read some of Revelation and see what you think.  

 

Watch/hear the song story here: Bing Videos  (the story is shared by the songwriters from 0:43 to 2:37)

 See information about the picture here: File:Holy Spirit as Dove (detail).jpg - Wikimedia Commons…This work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 100 years or fewer. {{PD-1996}} – public domain in its source country on January 1, 1996 and in the United States.