I’ve been a fan of Petra since I was just a kid. I remember when I would play Power Praise in my kiddie cassette stereo. It had a handle so I would carry it around everywhere. Out of all the music there is, Petra is my favorite band. I recently started collecting all their albums, or at least, the ones with John Schlitt in them (the current lead singer). So far, I have fifteen of their albums, and any time I receive a new one, I play it on repeat in my car. I might be a little obsessed. My dream is to someday meet them, so I keep hoping that it’ll happen.

You can imagine how excited I was to find out that they’re back to playing music. I found out from CMADDICT that they had a new album title Hope. I immediately got my own copy and listened to it in my car (of course!). I’ve already listened to it many times. Such a nostalgic moment for me. I felt like a bit of the past came back and gave me a hug. I mean it. It’s such a comforting feeling. It makes me feel like coming home to moments that were long gone. That’s how Petra’s album Hope communicated its message to me. Filled with, well, hope.

While I enjoyed the whole album, there were a few songs that stuck with me. The first song Filthy Lucre makes a big impact right off the bat. At first, I didn’t know what the lyrics for this track meant, so I had to look it up. Lucre is gaining money in a distasteful way. I love how raw and real Petra is with their lyrics. That’s one of the reasons I like them so much. They don’t sugarcoat anything. They tackle the more serious subjects in life.

The third noticeable song is Oxygen – which I kept replaying in my car. It has a unique sound, almost like a tropical theme to it. And I also like the lyrics with, “Your word is my oxygen, breathing life into my soul.” I like the harder rock in the fourth track Skin In The Game. It’s the kind to make your head move and bob. The lyrics are good, too, with, “Skin in the game, His blood was shed.” I just really enjoy it. Great song.

The sixth song is Miracle Maker – which is full of hope and strength. Throughout the album, it’s hope-filled, and this song is one of them. The lyrics are beautiful with, “Miracle Maker, You heal the blind, turning water into wine, Miracle Maker, You calm the sea, setting every captive free.”  For every song, there’s also a verse tied to it – which I thought was really cool. The ninth track is Deliver Us – it’s my favorite off this album. It’s got awesome lyrics with, “We pray for deliverance from evil, we pray every stronghold will come down.” Once again, it’s a head banger. I just love the focus of it. Not long enough, though.

Hope by Petra was a remarkable welcome back from the past, and I literally loved every minute of it. I hope they continue to make music, because I’m an eager listener. And I just want to say, thank you, Petra. I’m a devoted fan. You’ve gotten me through some tough battles in life, and I love all your encouragement and inspiration. Keep going.