With its simple arrangement and heartfelt lyrics, this is an accessible new worship song that makes space for personal reflection and encounter with God, says our music editor
There’s always more to discover about the character and nature of God. That’s the beauty of the Christian faith – catching fresh glimpses of who Jesus is as He reveals Himself to us in new and unexpected ways. Our worship is not just a response to this, but an opportunity for encounter and friendship with Him.
‘I long to know You’ by British worship artists Jonny Riggs and Julia Loveless is a thoughtful song that captures this longing. It opens with the lyrics: “I want to know You more tomorrow than I know You now today.”
Later, the duo sing: “Sometimes I think I know You, but then I look again / And there You are, a wonder / The mystery never ends.” These lines are a reminder that our worship should never become too comfortable or familiar but leave us in awe of who God is. As the chorus declares: “To be with You is everything / I never want to leave.”
Speaking to Premier Christianity, Loveless said that, initially, the song wasn’t part of her setlist at this summer’s David’s Tent festival. But that changed as the worship session led everyone into a place of deep hunger for more of God. “I had this really beautiful moment of getting to lead it in a way that felt fully congruent to what God was doing,” she said.
The lyric: “I long to know Your heart” expresses this desire for a more personal relationship with God – not simply knowing about Him but truly knowing Him.
The song itself is simple, beautiful and easy to learn. With an arrangement built primarily around guitar and keys, it’s accessible for smaller church worship teams. The bridge repeats the lyric “I never want to leave”, giving worshippers space to respond rather than introducing another fresh idea.
Riggs told Premier Christianity: “I think this song falls in a sweet middle ground between congregational song and devotional song. It can be enjoyed in the quiet or used on a Sunday morning. I hope it helps people articulate their longing for God and meet Him in the process.”
The song emerged from Riggs and Loveless sharing voice memos of ideas from their individual writing sessions. Together, they have created a song that captures the heart of worship: a simple desire to know God more, draw closer to Him and keep discovering more of who He is each day.
