Naomi Raine: ‘Our Purpose Should Be Part Of God’s Greater Purpose’
By Movieguide® Contributor
Grammy-winning gospel singer Naomi Raine is emphasizing the importance of remembering God’s purpose for us.
“Sometimes we get so focused on our purpose that we forget that our purpose should be a part of God’s greater purpose and His will,” she said in a recent TBN video. “Preach the gospel, heal the sick, cast out the devils; this type of stuff.”
Raine continued, “I’m just trying to see, ‘Okay, Lord, in whatever I’m doing, how am I accomplishing this great commission that you’ve given us?’”
The singer has previously spoken about using her gifts to glorify God.
“I sing, and I think because I sing, because I praise God on a regular basis, it’s allowed my perspective to be different,” she told PEOPLE. “I feel like it’s affected my mental health and how I view the world. Instead of just looking at what’s going wrong, I’m able to see, ‘OK, this is what God is doing. And even though this circumstance might not be ideal, God is still good, and he’s still worthy.’ It’s been very freeing for me.”
In another interview with BET, Raine reflected on how her fame has not changed her.
“I don’t need to sit in the front, I just need to be with Jesus,” she explained. “I know He’s in the back of the room, on the side, in the front, on the stage, in the basement. I just wanted to make music that said that because I was so aware that people were starting to know who I was, and none of that is important to me.”
Raine continued, “And then when you think about it, the actual most important person in existence decided to give up His place in glory to come down and be with us? You know what I mean? We have a good time, but when you also look at some stuff, it’s like humans! He wants to be with us, and I just think that’s beautiful. I just want to be like Him.”
Movieguide® previously reported on Raine’s faith:
Raine recognizes that the authenticity of her music encourages others to be authentic in their worship.
“I think it’s why some people don’t pray nowadays, and don’t go to the Lord, and feel guilty and ashamed of where they are,” Raine explained. “God wants to be with us. He says he’s near to the broken hearted. This is the God that we serve. A smoldering wick he won’t snuff out. When you’re at your lowest and your worst, he’s like, ‘I’m not going to just get rid of you.’ That’s not the God that we serve.”
Even as she continues making music to help people turn toward God, she admits that she is not perfect and needs sanctification daily.
“Just because I sing a worship song doesn’t mean that I don’t have real needs. I am definitely afraid, because I think we have seen this in the worship culture, and the church, and Christians are very judgmental about people’s process,” she said. “But I just don’t see that in the Bible. You know what I see in the Bible? I see real, actual people and all their flaws.”
“Sanctification is a process,” Raine continued. “I believe that what we see in the Bible is people going through a process. They’re still being used by the Lord, but they’re in process. I want to normalize the process — but not normalize and okay sin. That’s not what this is. It’s just, ‘Hey, it’s okay to grow, and growth takes longer than I think we want it to.’ It’s hard to walk with people out of their journey, but we look at some people, like myself, and we look at those people like, ‘Hey, this is the goal. This is the standard.’ But we are not the standard. Jesus is the standard and we all need him. That’s what I’m hoping this music can do. I’m facing my fears and putting it out.”
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