Music

I Want to Be Consumed

Downloadable Chord Charts

Song Story

I wrote this song in 2007 after hearing the story of a lady from India named Shampa. Her stories made me long for more of the things of God, and they caused me to be jealous to know Jesus in more tangible way. Since I first heard her stories, she has become like a spiritual mother to me and has taught me much in the ways of the Lord. In one of her emails, she wrote, "My friend we were truly made for another world, and I believe God is raising up a breed of disciples who would live in the natural as if they cannot see it, and live in the spirit as if they can. I think (just me) this desire to see is so great that it would push us to weep for our eyes to be open inside so much so that we would live in the spirit and imagine the natural." These words have driven me ever since.

One day as I was driving in my car, I started singing out to the Lord, "I want to be consumed by the things of heaven...I want to go up and bring heaven down." When I got home I wrote down these words and added words from the following scriptures:

"Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling...so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come" (2 Corinthians 5:2-5, NIV).

"You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit" (John 3:7-8).

"And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:6).

"For Christ's love compels us....And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again" (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).

My desire is that this song will provoke all of us to long for Jesus more, to fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen and eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18).

Lyrics

I Want to Be Consumed
Words and music by John Gabriel Arends

I am like wind, born of the Spirit
I live on earth, seated in heaven
Open my eyes so that I can see
The mystery of Your Kingdom in me

I want to be consumed by the things of heaven
Let mortal flesh be swallowed in life
I want to be consumed by the love that's in Your arms
By the fire that burns in Your eyes
I want to go up and bring heaven down
Go up and bring heaven down
Go up and bring heaven down
Go up and bring heaven down

I live for Him, He is my purpose
I live on earth, and I love heaven
There is nothing in this world for me
I live for the One who died for me