This Beloved Verse Inspired AMERICAN IDOL Alum’s Latest Hit
By Movieguide® Contributor
Christian artist Colton Dixon is opening up about a Bible verse that shaped his life and inspires his music.
“Jeremiah 29:11 has been a favorite of mine for a long time,” the AMERICAN IDOL alum said. “And I feel like that is the same with a lot of other people as well. It’s their life verse. And I’m like, ‘Okay, like, man, this really talks about God’s plan for us and what that means.’ And growing up, I don’t know, I feel like I didn’t always have the mindset that I do now, which is, you know, sometimes God is the cause behind bad things to teach us a lesson or two.”
The verse reads, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'”
“But now, looking back, I’m like, ‘You know what? I don’t think God is actually the cause of that because it says in His Word time and time again that His plans are to prosper us, not to harm us, to give us hope and a future,'” Dixon continued. “So, that means that the enemy is actually behind that. Right? The Bible also says the enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy, but God comes to give us life and life more abundant. So I really wanted to dive into what God’s plan was for all of us. I think it’s for everyone.”
The verse even inspired his summer hit “Up + Up.”
Some of the lyrics read:
Yeah, God I know the plans You have for me
When my cup is overflowing
So while I’m in the between, I’ma live my life knowingIf I get down, You pick me up from the ground
You give me love that don’t give out
Give in no condition, You lift me up and up again
Now, no matter who surrounds
I’ll let my hallelujah get loud like a freight train
Sunshine or rain, I’ll lift You up and up again
(Up and up again)
“Life is tough, but I believe God wants the best for us,” Dixon told The Christian Beat of the song. “Though life doesn’t come without trials, I believe that God’s plan is to give us hope and a future — a plan that always says ‘up and up’ again.
“Musically I wanted to mirror the message of this song, which is this — ‘don’t let life knock you down, but put your hope in God and He will take you ‘up and up’ again,’” he added.
