#1173 – “Forever Family (I Belong)” by Dara Maclean

Christian contemporary artist Dara Maclean’s songs express her love and gratitude for Jesus Christ through creative musical expression. Her previous vertical efforts, “Yours Forever,” “Our Only Hope,” and “Blameless,” are inspiring and emotionally moving. In her new album, River, she sings with an engaging and uplifting passion, and her lyrics point listeners to Jesus. 
 
As a father of three young daughters, I find hearing anointed female worship leaders like Dara exciting. One of her songs’ prayerful message of devotion resonates with my desire for my daughters to connect with Jesus. I spoke with Dara about her music “Forever Family (I Belong).”
  

Please tell me the personal story behind this song.
 
Worship is where it all began for me. As a young girl, it was just me with my guitar, singing simple songs of freedom over people and humbly watching God do something extraordinary with it. Music is a vehicle for healing, and how I express worship has always been the underlying current, even during the years of being identified as a pop Christian contemporary artist.
 
When I was 22, after a lifetime of ministry and working hard as an independent artist, I was signed to a major record label, leading to two full-length albums, You Got My Attention and Wanted. I was nominated for a Dove Award for “New Artist of The Year,” and my songs were played on the radio and all over the world. I was also on Winter Jam, the world’s biggest tour, touring with the most prominent artists in Christian music for three seasons. I give God all the glory and will forever be grateful for that season.
 
“Forever Family” is a worship offering for anyone who has ever felt second best, not good enough, and anyone striving for acceptance and approval. I pray this song is a daily revelation reminder that we are eternally accepted and welcomed to the table as valued family members by our perfect parent, God.
 
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
 
John 10:10 (ESV): “The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

2 Corinthians 6:18 (VOICE): “‘And I will be for you as a Father, and you will be for Me as sons and daughters,’ Says the Lord Almighty!”

1 John 3:18 (VOICE): My little children, don’t just talk about love as an idea or a theory. Make it your true way of life and live in the pattern of gracious love.

1 John 3:1 (NKJV): “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us because it did not know Him.”

Hebrews 4:14-16 (NIV): “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV): “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.”

Romans 8:11 (VOICE): “If the Spirit of the One who resurrected Jesus from the dead lives inside of you, then you can be sure that He who raised Him will cast the light of life into your mortal bodies through the life-giving power of the Spirit residing in you.”
 
What is the takeaway message?
 
I’ve been traveling locally and globally doing music and ministry for the last ten years—signed at 22 to now 32. With the blessing of my label, I’ve stepped out as an independent artist once again. Over the last ten years, I’ve learned much about myself and my purpose as an artist. I believe that my purpose is to reveal the heart of God the Father through music with clarity and accuracy. I watch God use my music to free hearts and call us back to Him and each other. My album, River, is filled with simple, vulnerable, authentic songs about love, freedom, family, and God as Father, granting Him full access into every room of the hearts of believers until the whole house is healed.
 
Lyrics
 
You dreamt up the world
Breathed on the dust
So you could love us
Oh, how you love us
You called us out
Out from the crowd
Just to be near us
You love to be near us
You’re the friend that I can’t lose
The love that I cannot earn
The father, I didn’t, deserve
But you made me worthy
To be in your family
In from the cold
You opened the door
You were there waiting
Always there waiting
This lonely heart
Healed in your arms
The home that I needed
You’re all that I needed
You’re the friend that I can’t lose
The love that I cannot earn
The father I didn’t deserve
But you made me worthy
To be in your family
You call me
You call me
You call me
Forever family
You brought me
You brought me
You brought me
Into Your family
You call me Yours
I belong, I belong
I know what I’m worth
I belong, I belong
You call me Yours
I belong, I belong
I know what I’m worth
I belong, I belong
You call me Yours
I belong, I belong
I know what I’m worth
I belong, I belong
You’re the friend that I can’t lose
The love that I cannot earn
The father I didn’t deserve
But you made me worthy
To be in Your family
You’re the friend that I can’t lose
The love that I cannot earn
The father I didn’t deserve
But you made me worthy
To be in Your family
You call me
You call me
You call me
Forever family
You brought me
You brought me
You brought me
Into Your family
You call me
You call me
You call me
Forever family
You brought me
You brought me
You brought me
Into Your family
 
Closing Thoughts
 
Corrie ten Boom beautifully expressed, “When we find ourselves powerless to act, it brings immense joy to know that we can step into the limitless ability of Jesus.” This infectious song captures that sentiment, reflecting the profound joy we experience when we relinquish our reliance on our own understanding and instead wholeheartedly submit ourselves to the unwavering faithfulness and empowering nature of Jesus, who uplifts us in every circumstance. 
 
It reminds us that God encourages us to approach His throne of mercy and grace with boldness, confidently receiving and obtaining all we need. Our burdens are lifted away as we embrace our true identity in Christ through this song. It carries a powerful message and serves as a celebration of the freedom we enjoy through our unwavering faith in Jesus Christ.
 
River tells a story of redemption through Dara’s Psalm-like prayers. The album is filled with relatable and biblical themes, incredible singing, and prayerful words that express the meaning of being a child of God.

God can do immeasurably more than anything, and everything one can ask or even imagine, and this song is a true celebration of the great biblical truth of “Him who can do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” from Ephesians 3:20. He speaks to us in His still, small voice, as Dara proclaims in many of her songs. 
 
Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to work in your life? Are you spending time listening to Him? He’ll make you free, and God wants to hear from you.
 
Prayers and songs of praise are a communal experience that we can all share. They remind us to yearn for heaven and the eternal connection with the Lord. When the Holy Spirit resides within us, we experience a personal relationship with the comforter and a deep sense of peace beyond our comprehension. It’s an understanding that this broken world is not the sole purpose of our existence.
 
We’re His sons and daughters, and you’re His child. So, take God’s love with you everywhere you go, and know His love goes with you. Spend time reflecting on and singing this song to Him. It will give you comfort. We sometimes put up a wall between us and God. He wants us to come home to Him. Many of us feel that we’re not worthy of being near God and that He’s using a checklist to determine our worthiness. That’s not the Gospel. 
 
If God is with us, we can endure anything. If we have God by our side, we can overcome any obstacle. This song reminds us that our true identity lies in God as our father. The Good News of the Gospel, which this song accurately portrays, says that God accepts us no matter what we’ve done. As the song goes, “You’re the friend that I can’t lose/The love that I cannot earn/The father I didn’t deserve/But You made me worthy/To be in Your family.” Amen to that.