Welcome back to another episode of The Gospel According to, where we examine beautiful songs and quotes through a Biblical lens. This week’s focus is a gorgeous love song called “Butterflies” by Kacey Musgraves. We’ll start by reveling in the beautiful romance of this country-folk-jazz song, and then turn it on its head for an even better view. Enjoy!
Fandom: “Now you’re lifting me up, instead of holding me down, stealing my heart instead of stealing my crown/ untangled all the strings round my wings that were tied/ I didn’t know him, and I didn’t know me/ cloud nine was always out of reach/ now I remember what it feels like to fly… you give me butterflies.”
Verses: Psalm 3:3, 2 Peter 2:9-10, John 8:31-32, 36, 2 Corinthians 5:17
Nugget: The love of Jesus frees us, restores us, and gives us immeasurable value in Him.
The Horizontal View: Finally finding real love
This song is so sweet and beautiful all on its own, and whoever inspired the artist who wrote it is an amazing human — #realtionshipgoals. She describes being set free by her new loved one/significant other, which implies that previous relationships haven’t treated her well. I can imagine this song being played as a couple’s first dance at their wedding, when it’s finally official that they’ll be together forever—for real this time. And of course there is the looking-someone-in-the-eyes-and-your-stomach-does-a-full-360-flip feeling that’s terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. Just imagine being married to someone for years and years and still getting that feeling when you look at them…
The Vertical View: Jesus gives real love, always.
I don’t know about you, but I can definitely relate to the chorus of “Butterflies.” I’ve had people in my life, specifically guys, who have held me down, stolen my self-worth and my faith in humanity, and have tangled me up in hurt and loneliness and longing. But I also feel the freedom that she describes in my new relationship—with Jesus. Because only Jesus has freed, healed, and restored my heart. Here’s how:
“I was hiding in doubt until you brought me out of my chrysalis, and I came out new all because of you…” – Kacey Musgraves “Butterflies”
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away, behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV The first thing Jesus does when we come to Him is make us new. As soon as you have repented of your sin, believed that Jesus is able to make you new, and surrendered to His Lordship over your life, He gives you a completely new identity (Romans 10:9-10). In the eyes of God, you are a new creation, whole and perfect and sinless; God sees Jesus when He looks at you. That is a precious thing, friends, and I can never overstate how important it is that you know where your heart is on this. Here’s a post that will tell you more about how to experience this transformation in your own life ☺
“Lifting me up, instead of holding me down” -Kacey Musgraves
“But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.” Psalm 3:3 ESV ✨Side note: the word translated as “glory” in this verse is kabod, which means “honor, splendor, abundance, majesty, the one I glorify” when referring to God, but can also mean “the heart, the soul, as being the more noble part of man.” so In this verse, God is the one we glorify, and He also represents the best part of our hearts, the part that is made in His image.✨
“Stealing my heart, instead of stealing my crown” -“Butterflies”
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10 ESV Not only does Jesus refrain from stealing my crown (that is, self-respect that comes from my own perception of myself), He also gives me an entirely new identity to live under. Because of the sacrifice of Jesus, we are called holy, royal, and His. I belong to someone, and I am a citizen and ambassador of His kingdom (2 Corinthians 5: 18-20). The King has stolen my heart, and I will proclaim His excellency all my days 💖
“Untangled all the strings round my wings that were tied.” – Kacey Musgraves
“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free… so if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:31-32, 36 ESV Notice how Jesus (the one speaking in this verse) says “if you abide in my word… the truth will set you free.” The Greek word translated “abide” is the verb meno, which means “abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry.” So if we continue to choose Jesus and stay with Him instead of turning back to our old habits and thoughts about ourselves, we will be set free from the lies that entangle us.
Ahhh, that felt like a deep breath of fresh air. Hope your soul was as encouraged by reading this post as mine was by writing it. If you did enjoy, please do me a favor and share with all your peeps using the graphic below. And let me know below – how have you felt the love of God recently?
Happy fangirling!
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