The children and I have been studying through Isaiah during our school time this semester. This song began percolating as Isaiah 63:14 leapt off the page earlier this week.
We were also discussing a prophetic word that one of my children shall become a singing prophet, and sing on a stadium stage as a young adult in a white dress while I walk down off the stage to the broken in fancy wheelchairs lined up in front. I commanded them, “Out! In Jesus name!” They popped up out of those wheelchairs one after another, with withered limbs made whole by the Spirit of the Living God. After the trance, I wondered, “Who opened all those five-point harnesses? God alone or man in faith?
During class time, I pulled up the scenes from Sister Act 1 with the red-haired nun who discovered her voice after a lifetime of believing the lie of inferiority she was always one step behind everyone else.
Sister Act 2 had a scene of a black student snared by the stronghold of generational slavery that robbed his confidence, leaving him with a very weak, choked voice.
The character played by Whoopi Goldberg, pretending to be one of the nuns INFILTRATING THE INFILTRATORS, pulled out pure voices hidden within those who hungered to transform their communities but imprisoned within loveless walls of tradition and fear. Those voices wowed the crowds and broke the chains of poverty that narcissistic leaders had imposed on the children and made the gospel appealing once again. The one never accepted by the religious elite unlocked the authentic sound of worship within the worshippers.
This song took an interesting twist as I initially contrasted the drunken leaders wearing the crowns of pride with the worshipers who become the CROWN OF GLORY in the hand of our God. It morphed into the power of repentance through His mercy redeeming those wearing the generational crowns of pride. As they humbly laid them down, they became crowns of glory in His hand. They shall be lifted out of the dung heap, where they were cast by the iniquity and resulting curses their forefathers enacted, to now sit among princes. Beauty for ashes!
While President Trump releases the FORTRESS Initiative of SELF-SUFFICIENCYx 90 days in the media, we remember that A Mighty Fortress is Our God!
The Spirit of the LORD Gave Them Rest
By Julia E. Kelly Oct 31, 2026
[Verse 1]
Your door stands open; Christ, the Way;
Your promise stands for us today.
We mix with faith the words You speak,
With hearts that trust and feet that seek.
Dead works of flesh we put aside,
Traditions of men, CROWNS OF PRIDE.
Restore the honor of Your ways;
Let living faith rise up in praise.
[Pre-Chorus]
The DRUNKEN LEADERS heard Your call,
But turned away and would not heed.
We hear Your voice and choose Your ways;
Into Your REST, O LORD, now lead.
[Chorus — Days of old]
Your Spirit, LORD, gave them their REST;
They walked in faith, possessed the land.
They laid their CROWN OF PRIDE aside;
Became Your glory in Your hand.
A CROWN OF GLORY they became;
In covenant with You they stood.
FORSAKEN was no more their name;
Their DESOLATE land bloomed with good.
You called them Your delight that day;
They bore the honour of Your Name.
Like Moses, Joshua obeyed;
You went before and made a way.
[Verse 2]
Lift the reproach of years before,
Of hearts that heard but closed the door.
Restore the honor of Your Law;
Fill us again with holy awe.
Spirit of wisdom, help us see;
Fear of the LORD, take root in me.
Where understanding lost its way,
Let wisdom rise like breaking day.
[Pre-Chorus]
As then, O LORD, be with us now;
We choose Your ways, to You we bow.
Like Moses, we obey Your Word;
Your ancient promise lives today!
[Chorus — Present day]
Your Spirit, LORD, now gives us REST;
We walk by faith, possess the land.
We lay our CROWN OF PRIDE aside;
Become Your glory in Your hand.
A CROWN OF GLORY we become;
In covenant with You we stand.
FORSAKEN is no more our name;
Our DESOLATE land blooms again.
You call us Your delight today;
We bear the honor of Your Name.
Like Joshua, we trust, obey;
You go before and make a way.
[Verse 3]
My soul finds REST in You alone,
My saving rock, my FORTRESS strong.
My strength and shelter come from You;
You hold me fast and see me through.
I seek the ancient paths again:
“Show me the way; I’ll walk therein.”
You give my weary soul Your REST;
As souls prosper, restore our health.
[Bridge — Building]
We trust, are baptized in Your Name;
Your Holy Spirit fans the flame.
As Paul laid hands, Your Spirit came;
Now fill us, LORD, with that same flame.
You rose to reign at God’s right hand;
Confirm Your Word throughout the land.
The Kingdom of Heaven is near;
We preach Your Gospel, free from fear.
We freely give what You have shared;
Let broken lives now be repaired.
Heal all the sick; make lepers clean;
New tongues arise, Your signs are seen.
Raise up the dead, cast devils out;
Your Kingdom power leaves no doubt.
Through serpents’ threat and deadly harm,
Keep us secure within Your arms.
We lay our hands upon the sick;
Let them recover by Your might.
Work through us, LORD, confirm Your Word;
Let those in darkness see Your light.
[Breakdown]
We do and teach what You command;
Great in Your Kingdom, LORD, we stand.
Write all Your ways upon our hearts;
Let all our lives show who You are.
Your Kingdom comes in more than words;
Your power makes Your truth be heard.
All things are possible through You
For those who trust Your Word is true.
[Bridge — Rising]
The DRUNKEN LEADERS wore their pride,
And heard Your voice but turned aside.
We bow our hearts beneath Your hand;
You shape our lives as You have planned.
Hephzibah—Your delight are we;
Our land is Beulah, joined to You.
In covenant, Your love holds true;
Your glory shines through all we do.
[Final Chorus]
Your Spirit, LORD, now gives us REST;
We walk by faith, possess the land.
We lay our CROWN OF PRIDE aside;
Become Your glory in Your hand.
A CROWN OF GLORY we become;
In covenant with You we stand.
FORSAKEN is no more our name;
Our DESOLATE land blooms again.
You call us Your delight today;
We bear the honor of Your Name.
Like Joshua, we trust, obey;
You go before and make a way.
[Final post-chorus]
We freely give what we receive;
Your Kingdom comes as we believe.
Let nations hear Your Gospel call;
Your REST and healing flow to all.
[Outro — “The” as a pickup into the last line]
Your Spirit leads us by Your hand,
To REST within our promised land.
In covenant, our souls are blessed—
The Spirit of the LORD gave them REST.
© 2026 Julia E. Kelly. All rights reserved
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