Gratitude - Brandon Lake

Artist: Brandon Lake

Title: Gratitude

Year: 2021

Producer: Jacob Scooter

Genre: Worship

In my point of view, resolutions can sometimes lead to transformative changes. They are periods of self-exploration and personal growth. For this reason, my second selection for Week 1 is a worship song that I believe shows the stages of change. The six stages of behavioral change include pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation/determination, action/willpower, and maintenance. Pre-contemplation, which refers to a lack of awareness of the need for change, is the only stage I believe to not be present in the song.

Contemplation

From the start, Lake acknowledges his shortcomings during worship. He appears unsure about how to overcome this barrier.

Preparation/Determination

In his second verse, Lake begins to open up about possible ways to express his gratitude through song. However, part of him still believes it is not enough, so he is not ready to make the change.

Action/Willpower

At this point, he gives into the music and verbalizes the change he is implementing in the chorus. As an artist, he is inviting his listeners to not feel ashamed in their own cycles of change—and to feel worthy.

Maintenance

The third verse is Lake repeating the behavior, making a habit out of his worship.

In the bridge, Lake continues to encourage the behavior, further exemplifying the willpower that is needed to maintain a change.

Though this is a worship song, I see a lot of uplifting power in the music itself. The element of texture in this song build up tension up to the point of the bridge. This beautiful layering of instrumentation—including voice—follow along with Lake's journey through behavioral change. Once the habit has been formed, the tension is released and the chorus is repeated to represent the resolution.

From a Christian perspective, the bridge represents the point when the singer feels closest to God. Having accomplished his desire of expressing his gratitude for the Lord, Lake's prior lack of confidence is resolved and he begins to feel worthy.

Connection to Playlist

Because Gratitude is a worship song, it translates perfectly into the second component of "Gold, God, and Glory." To honor diversity in spirituality, I invite you to feel and express your gratitude for the higher power in which you believe—whether that is science, God, or some other being. Our spirituality connects us to the world beyond the tangible and is an essential part of our individual identities. Consider that which guides you and hold on to it, make space for it in your everyday life.

Resources

Brandon Lake, Gratitude (Chosen Performance), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQdfs5S6jyA.

Loma Linda University, Stages of Change Model, https://medicine.llu.edu/academics/resources/stages-change-model.

Lyrics, Gratitude, https://www.lyrics.com/lyric-lf/5891153/Brandon+Lake/Gratitude.