The song Free Indeed was the first song I wrote at the start of the Homegrown Worship journey. The scripture from John 8:36 was a statement I desperately needed to proclaim over myself and I personally couldn’t think of a better way to remember something than to write a song about it.

For many years I’d be playing a record on repeat in my mind which went something a little like ‘you should be doing better, you should be making more money, you should achieving more’... it was fairly monotonous and stole a tremendous amount of my attention and joy. I allowed these refrains to seep into the way I thought about myself, and in turn this can adversely affect things on a much deeper level.

I’d even embraced the idea of being a workaholic and justified it in many ways… music is my job, my passion and my ministry… so it’s ok if I spend every waking hour checking my emails and it’s understandable if I need to attend to business matters on a family day - right?

The freedom that Jesus gives us is a powerful freedom. He breaks every chain.

He broke the chains of sin so we can be in right standing with God.

He breaks the chains of addiction… even iPhone addictions.

He breaks the chains that hold me to my virtual desk, and he sets me free to enjoy an abundant life.

I’ve come to believe that God loves my work ethic but he doesn’t need me for what I can do for Him. I’ve realised that he loves to play… He gave me a love for music in order that I’d spend quality time with Him. I learned this when I brought my ukulele home from the studio and popped it in our front room at home. There’s nothing more fun that sitting with my 4 year old daughter and taking it in turns to make up silly songs. I don’t mind if she achieves anything with music… I just love to connect with her.

The songs that God is singing over us are songs of freedom and deliverance. If we can turn the dial from the noise of this world and tune into heaven’s song, our hearts will find rest and our minds regain sanity so new life and fruitfulness can follow.

Andy Baker, Chief Enthusiast, Homegrown Worship