Songs that impact me #1: Do You Wanna Be Well? by The Gaither Vocal Band

Music is far more important than most of us realize. That is one reason I don't listen to much secular, and don't understand Christians who listen to more secular than Christian music. I need the encouragement that comes from Christian music that cannot be found in secular music. I want music that will draw me closer to God, not clutter my mind with the junk that is in so much secular music.

There are songs that impact us more than others. For something to do, and to share some of those songs, I am doing a series of blog posts about just that: songs that impact me the most.

The first few times I heard this song, I cried. I still do sometimes when I listen to it. It asks a simple question, but packs a great message. All too often, we sit back and expect God to do all the work when it comes to our struggles, but it always involves us doing our part. We have to take steps of faith, sometimes have to "take up our bed". We can't just lie there and expect God to make it an easy ride.


Do You Wanna Be Well?
By William J. Gaither, Suzanne Gaither Jennings, and Benjamin Gaither
Verse 1:

Waiting there for thirty-eight years, cried so long he ran out of tears
Just a worn out man, looking for a healing hand
Then one day his chance came along, a healing Man who could make him strong
And he caught his eyes, but his question took him by surprise

Chorus
Do you wanna be well? Really wanna be well?
Are you willing to take up your mat and help yourself?
Do you wanna be free? Really wanna be free?
If you wanna be healed and whole, you gotta wanna be well

Verse 2:
Ever tried to fix yourself? Every time you got up, you fell.
Then you wallowed there, drowning in your own despair?
Have you gotten used to the chains? Are you so attached to the pain?
You're afraid to part, and ask the Man for a brand new heart?

Chorus:
Do you wanna be well? Really wanna be well?
Are you willing to take up your mat and help yourself?
Do you wanna be free? Really wanna be free?
If you wanna be healed and whole, you gotta wanna be well

Bridge:
There's a better life waiting just for you
Endless open spaces in the sun

Chorus:
But you gotta wanna be well,  Really wanna be well.
Are you willing to take up your mat and help yourself?
Do you wanna be free? Really wanna be free?
If you wanna be healed and whole, you gotta wanna be well