This theologically rich and pastorally sensitive song unfolds as a threefold prayer to the Holy Spirit, drawing us into a fuller experience of Christ—through the Word, in our hearts, and into the world.

Verse 1: “Lift our eyes to Jesus”

The opening verse asks the Spirit to lift our eyes to behold Christ, to help us see how all of Scripture points to him. As a preacher, my longing is for our congregation to experience what the disciples did on the road to Emmaus—hearts burning within them as they encountered Jesus in all the Scriptures. The verse recognises the very real struggle we face: “clouds of sin and sorrow” often blind us to his beauty. And so, we pray that the Spirit would graciously open our eyes, enabling us to behold Jesus—the “Hero of our great redemption”—and respond in praise.

Verse 2: “Lift our hearts to Jesus”

From sight to affection, the second verse becomes a prayer for our hearts to be lifted to Jesus. Having seen him in the Word, we now ask that our emotions and desires be stirred until we find our deepest satisfaction in him. Too often, our hearts grow cold or distracted. This verse captures that need for divine intervention—God’s kindness to awaken us from worldly slumber, the gospel to “set our souls ablaze.” The imagery also gently evokes the Lord’s Table, as we’re invited to “taste his goodness” and receive Christ as the “ever-living bread from heaven” who satisfies “hungry beggars.” Liturgically minded worship leaders will appreciate the subtle reference to the Sursum Corda here—“lift up your hearts”—rooting this contemporary song in the deep tradition of Christian worship.

Verse 3: “Lift our hands in service”

The final verse turns outward. Having asked the Spirit to lift our eyes and hearts to Jesus, we now ask that he lift our hands in loving service. True Christian worship engages the whole person—head, heart, and hands. As the gathered worship concludes, our life of service begins afresh. We pray for strength to do God’s will with “true compassion,” not out of guilt or mere duty, but because we’ve been gripped by grace. The line “the beauty of his scars” strikingly captures the truth that it is not law but love that compels us—Christ’s love replacing self-interest with self-giving.