During the recent House of Worship global event, one of the evening's most reflective moments came as Matt Redman and Hillary Scott led the congregation in the beloved worship anthem The Heart of Worship-a song long associated with a return to simplicity and surrender in praise.
That moment also brought renewed attention to the stories behind modern worship classics, including Tim Hughes, who has often shared the deeply personal testimony behind his own globally sung hymn, Here I Am to Worship.
Hughes traces the origins of the song back to his university years, during a quiet season of devotion while reflecting on Philippians 2-the passage describing Christ's humility and obedience, even unto death on a cross.
"I remember reading about Christ's humility," Hughes recalled. "I was alone in my university room when I picked up my guitar, and this melody just flowed out-'Light of the world, You stepped down into darkness.' It came from a place of awe."
Though the verse and bridge emerged quickly, the song remained unfinished for months. Hughes admits he eventually set it aside, unsure how to complete it.
Then, during a later time of worship and devotion, the bridge resurfaced in his heart. As he revisited old recordings, Hughes rediscovered a forgotten melody that fit naturally with the lyrics. What followed was an unpolished but sincere response to Christ's sacrificial love.
"The lyrics just kind of stumbled out," he said. "Here I am to worship, here I am to bow down, here I am to say that You're my God. It wasn't polished-but it was real."
When the song was finally shared in worship, its impact was immediate. What began in a small dorm room soon spread across churches and nations, becoming a defining anthem of modern worship.
As worship leaders continue to revisit songs like The Heart of Worship and Here I Am to Worship, the message remains consistent: worship is not about performance, but about surrender-returning, again and again, to the heart of it all.
