I Lift My Eyes to Jesus

“I Lift My Eyes to Jesus” is a Christ-centered worship anthem that expresses trust in the risen Savior during trials and spiritual battles. Rather than focusing on inner strength or emotional defiance, the song declares that Christ is our shelter, His grace sustains us, and His victory over death gives us enduring hope. In the storm, the believer sings not to overcome by willpower, but in response to the mercy and triumph already won through the cross.

It is an alternative to "I Raise a Hallelujah" by Bethel Music (see motivation for this song below).

Lyrics

Verse 1
I lift my eyes to Jesus, when shadows start to rise
I lift my cry to heaven, the cross before my eyes
I lift my song of mercy, for grace has made me strong
The war was won at Calv’ry—His triumph is my song!

Chorus
When trials rise, I will not conform
Christ is my shelter, I’ll praise through the storm
Up from the ashes, mercy will shine
Death is defeated—His victory is mine!

Verse 2
I lift my eyes to Jesus, though fear is pressing in
He bore my every sorrow, He broke the power of sin
I lift my voice in trial, the blood has made me clean
Though I am weak and trembling, His Spirit lives in me

Chorus
When trials rise, I will not conform
Christ is my shelter, I’ll praise through the storm
Up from the ashes, mercy will shine
Death is defeated—His victory is mine!

Bridge
Christ has overcome the grave
He is mighty now to save
My hope is not in me
His love has set me free

Christ has overcome the grave
He is mighty now to save
My hope is not in me
His love has set me free

Christ has overcome the grave
He is mighty now to save
His love has set me free
(His love has set me free)

Final Chorus
When trials rise, I will not conform
Grace is my anchor, I’ll praise through the storm
Up from the ashes, mercy will shine
Death is defeated—His victory is mine!

Devotional Reflection

Day 1 – Eyes Up in the Storm
Psalm 121:1–2 reminds us: “I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord…”
This song echoes that upward gaze—not as escape, but as realignment. We don't fight storms alone. We sing in them, because the One who rules the storm walks beside us.

Day 2 – Christ is My Shelter
Psalm 46:1 declares God is our “refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
When the chorus says “Christ is my shelter,” it anchors praise in the person of Jesus. The safety we feel isn’t emotional—it’s eternal, secured at the cross and sealed by the Spirit.

Day 3 – Hope from the Ashes
Lamentations 3:22–23 says His mercies are “new every morning.”
We rise from the ashes because Christ was raised for us (Romans 6:4). We don’t sing to create resurrection—we sing because resurrection is already reality for those in Him.

Day 4 – Victory is Already Won
Colossians 2:15 reminds us that Jesus “disarmed the powers and authorities… triumphing over them by the cross.”
This is why we sing boldly: death is defeated, sin is paid for, and Satan’s accusations are silenced.

Day 5 – Singing by the Spirit
Ephesians 5:19–20 speaks of singing “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs… giving thanks always.”
Worship isn't noise to overcome suffering; it's surrender to the truth: Christ reigns, even in mystery. The Spirit helps us sing even when we don’t feel like it.

Lyric Notes:

“When trials rise, I will not conform”

Conform here, is an allusion to Romans 12: Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. It speaks of gospel transformation in suffering in which we know through trials we may be transformed more into the image of Christ. 
For additional clarity, Chorus 2 could be amended to start: When trials rise, I will be transformed. Then both ideas, "do not conform," and "but be transformed" are included.

Motivation for This Song

"I Lift My Eyes to Jesus" is a response to Bethel's "I Raise a Hallelujah".

The song "I Raise a Hallelujah" by Bethel Music is a passionate anthem of defiant praise in the midst of suffering. If we assess it in light of the gospel—particularly whether it promotes reliance on Christ or subtly encourages reliance on personal effort—we can break it down into several key areas:

1. Gospel Clarity: Who Is the Savior?

• Strength: The line “Death is defeated, the King is alive” gestures toward Christ’s resurrection—this is a core gospel truth. It reminds us that Jesus has conquered death, and that reality brings hope.

• Concern: Despite this, the song never names Jesus or explains how the King defeated death. The language stays abstract—"the King" is assumed to be understood. For someone unfamiliar with the gospel, the victory could seem like a generic spiritual triumph rather than the atoning death and resurrection of Christ.

✅ Mentions victory over death (a gospel theme).
⚠️ Lacks clarity about how that victory was won and by whom.

2. Where Is the Focus: God’s Work or Mine?

• The repetition of “I raise… I sing… I will…” places strong emphasis on what the believer does in response to difficulty.

• Praise is presented as a weapon, and singing becomes a means of defeating fear, unbelief, and darkness.

This can be powerful encouragement to express faith amid trials, but the risk is that it presents my action (praise) as the means of victory, rather than Christ’s finished work. It may suggest that breakthrough comes because I sing, rather than because Christ died and rose.

✅ Encourages active, hopeful response in trials.
⚠️ Could be misunderstood as self-powered deliverance through praise rather than Christ-centered dependence.

3. View of Suffering and Spiritual Battle

• The song acknowledges suffering ("in the middle of the storm") and spiritual opposition ("presence of my enemies," "unbelief," "darkness," "fear").

• It doesn’t minimize pain, and it encourages bold praise in the face of it.

However, the solution offered is more about internal resolve and praise than trusting the sufficiency of Christ’s victory.

✅ Realistic about hardship and encourages a posture of praise.
⚠️ Could be more theologically grounded by referencing Christ’s intercession, the Spirit’s help, or the cross as the ultimate weapon.**

Summary Assessment

Final Thoughts:

“I Raise a Hallelujah” is a devotional, emotional response song—it celebrates faith that defies fear and suffering through bold praise. But from a gospel theology lens, it’s more expressive than doctrinal, and it leans into the believer’s actions without rooting those actions clearly in Christ’s finished work.

How to improve gospel clarity:

• Explicitly name Jesus as the victorious King.

• Frame praise as a response to Christ’s victory, not the cause of spiritual triumph.

• Include lines that reflect dependence, not just determination.