{lyrics & songs}: Sara Groves Tribute Countdown #8

8. "Eyes on the Prize"

One thing I love about Sara is her partnership with International Justice Mission (IJM).  Yes, I call her Sara like I know her personally because I'm sure if she didn't live in Minnesota and I didn't live in WI, we would have Saturday morning coffee dates where we would contemplate life.  From those imagined coffee dates, I know that she would be inspired to write songs and they would be food for my someday novel.

Anyway, back to IJM.  I first heard of them in college when their founder, Gary Haugen, came to speak at a Westmont chapel.  It was my first exposure to human trafficking on a global level.  Prior to that, I had been introduced to Invisible Children, a documentary about child soldiers kidnapped from their parents and forced into a barbaric war.  (This group has been responsible for the "Kony 2012" campaign that went viral and subsequent controversy followed.)

Since knowing about human trafficking, I have been a campaigner for IJM and talk to my co-workers and youth group students whenever I can get it in there.  Over the past year, I have applied to work for IJM three times to no avail.

But their mission is in my heart because I believe it is the mission of God to free people from their slavery.

This song was Sara's contribution to the good and difficult work IJM is doing in the world and I can't help but blast it in the car on my way to what often feels like a dead-end job: "keep your eyes on the prize, JoAnn.  This is training for your life and what is to come.  And in the meantime, pray.  Keep your hand on the gospel plow and pray."

Paul and Silas bound in jail
Got no money for to go their bail
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on

Paul and Silas thought they were lost
The dungeon shook and the chains fell off
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on

Freedom's name is mighty sweet
And one day soon we are gonna meet
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on

I got my hand on the gospel plow
Won't take nothing for my journey now
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on

The wait is slow, and we've so far to go
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on

The wait is slow, and we've so far to go
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on

Only chain a man can stand
Is that chain of hand on hand
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on

Ain't no man on earth control
The weight of glory on a human soul.
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on.

The wait is slow, and we've so far to go
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on

The wait is slow, and we've so far to go
Keep your eyes on the prize.

When you see a man walk free,
It makes you dream of jubilee.

When you see a child walk free,
It makes you dream of jubilee.

When you see a family free,
It makes you dream of jubilee.

Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on.