Michael W. Smith ‘A Million Lights’

Written by: Kelly Meade (2/15/2018)

Michael W. Smith has had an illustrious career in music over the past three decades. His songs have touched countless lives with the love of God and Michael has maintained relevance & integrity as an artist through it all. The release of A Million Lights takes his sound to the next level.

Title track and lead single, “A Million Lights”, sets the tone for the album as it states the majesty of our Heavenly Father with lyrics reminiscent of Psalm 19:1 which states: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

“Something In My Heart” finds someone who is struggling to take steps toward their goals and dreams as the setbacks, failures and what seem like impossibilities hamper their confidence. It’s only when we choose to trust God and allow Him to spark the faith within us to move forward that we can live out the purpose He has for us.

“Your Love” is a song of redemption celebrating the way God’s unfailing love pulls us from the pits that our poor decisions & wrongdoings can trap us in. The track immediately following, “Love Always Wins”, further details the power of God’s love living inside you as it overcomes the darkness lurking within and all around.

“Crashing Waves” has a notably different sound that builds throughout the song. The words poetically tell a story of the life-changing experience that accepting Christ as your Savior can bring, redeeming you from wherever you’ve been when you choose to believe and follow Him.

A personal favorite of mine on the album is “Louder”. It inspires listeners to confidently embrace their worth in God’s eyes and the beautifully unique person He created them to be with the gifts and passions He’s placed upon their heart.

“Who You Are” closes the collection with a song that’s written from the perspective of God speaking to His children reminding us that He is always working things together for our good. We can trust Him and His faithfulness through the times of waiting and hardships we experience.

While listening to A Million Lights, I heard similar stylistic tones you may expect from artists like Coldplay or Tobymac. However, the creative, layered melodies and beats featured on the album stand out from just about everything that Michael has done in the past as well as much of what is currently happening in Christian music. The lyrics flow with a contemporary feel and provide a message of hope, forgiveness, love and God’s grace. I found A Million Lights thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish and believe that it’s something capable of reaching beyond the Christian music audience.

Rating: 4.5/5