Blessing Jude Okeke’s “Show Yourself”: An Audacious Worship, and an Endless Prayer of Plea

By Emmanuel Daraloye 

Blessing Jude Okeke’s “Show Yourself,” released on the 7th of July, 2022 is a mellow worship and yet a prideful plea directed to God to do again the miracles he has done in time past. The song hinges on a story that is not told on a full scale, but still shows the eminence of God that is being praised by the singer. Blessing is a Nigerian-based international worship leader, singer, and songwriter. Her show of mastery and depth of vocal strength is vivid in this musical piece. 

“Show Yourself” starts with some chords which follow immediately with a softly raised cymbal, and laced with bass from both the keyboard and the kick. This sends a short-lived rumbling sound accompanied also by the sneh, the hi-hat, and the toms. Blessing’s gentle start, and sonorous voice blends together stillness and sound at the same time which opens a portal of spiritual essence to the message even before she starts. 

“I’ve tasted of your goodness, and I’ve seen your mighty hands” is a biblical allusion that Blessing draws strength and hope from in a time as this. Worship singers do say this, and Blessing affirms it with the next line, “I know that you do great wonders” hence, the call unto God as he is needed urgently. “God we need You now” is a line from the song that shows its premise. 

In the continuation of the first verse of the song, Blessing continues to testify that she has seen God do miracles, and he is the only being that can do anything, even the so called impossible. Again, she repeats that line, “God we need You, now,” twice. Then, the chorus, “Show Yourself, here right now…” meets with the choral readiness of the backups. Blessing’s adlibs after the first repeated chorus evokes an emotional feeling which intensifies the urgency of the need for God to show himself. 

To sing the fourth verse of the song, there is a modulation. Blessing and her backup singers increased the pitch, and slowly switched up the tempo of the song. At those moments, the words have gone above pleas or prayers, but assurances of what God can do. This shows in these lines, “I am confident/That he who began a good work in me/Will surely perfect it.” Blessing envelops her message in the structure which is popular in gospel worship songs. She moves from the first stanza to the chorus, then the second, to the chorus, the third, and to other stanzas.

The predominantly used literary device in this musical piece is repetition. Blessing made use of repetition so as to make the lines stick and her message firm. While the beat which comprises of the keyboard, the drums, and guitar seem perfect for Blessing’s message in the song, the producer should have used more instruments like the violin, and the sax as they would have made the song more ethereal. Also, in a 5:17 mark song, Blessing should have infused a short and gentle 2-line spoken words or bible verses which would also have lifted the souls of the listeners the more. 

“Show Yourself” by Blessing Jude Okeke is like a prayer with confidence in God that does miracles. The singer’s vocal strength is commendable, the lyrics are deep, and the structure is straightforward which makes the listener focus. The beat and mix of the production is nearly perfect, but the sound still carry Blessing’s message.