Out of the Dust · Track 10

Onward to Zion

A Redeemed Country song for anyone tempted to quit

The question behind the song

What do I do when I'm tired of fighting? Keep moving forward. Keep praying, keep believing, keep doing what you know is right. The moment you turn your back on the fight is the moment you're most exposed.

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The Scripture · Galatians 6:7–10

Be Not Weary in Well Doing

Paul urges believers to keep sowing to the Spirit, even when the harvest seems slow. His encouragement comes with a promise:

"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

Galatians 6:9

And he ties that perseverance to a victory already won:

"But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."

1 Corinthians 15:57–58

To the Ephesians, he describes how to stand against the enemy:

"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."

Ephesians 6:13

And Scripture promises that standing your ground works:

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

James 4:7

Why I Wrote It

Don't Turn Your Back

I wrote this song as a companion to Victory. Victory says the war is already won. Onward to Zion is about what we do in the meantime: we don't give up in the fight.

Too often, Christians fall into a “woe is me” attitude. We get tired, discouraged, and tempted to quit. This song is a reminder to keep moving forward. Keep walking, keep praying, keep believing. Keep doing the things you know you should do.

Look at the armor of God in Ephesians 6. The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit. Every piece faces forward. There's nothing to cover your back. When you turn and walk away from the fight, that's the moment you're exposed and at your weakest. So we stand our ground and keep facing the enemy.

And we don't fight afraid. When the song says “we have immunity,” it means the devil's accusations can't stick to us. We've been pardoned. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. So don't let him steal your joy. Keep moving forward. We will make it to Zion.

When You Want to Quit

Worn Down and Walking Away

Weariness rarely announces itself. Prayer gets shorter. Church gets skipped. The Bible stays closed a little longer. A struggle you've fought for years starts to feel like a fight you'll never win. Quietly, we start walking away.

But stepping back from the fight doesn't make us safer. It leaves us exposed. Scripture's answer is to keep standing: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

Turning your back on the fight isn't the same as resting, or stepping away from a harmful situation. Jesus Himself withdrew to pray (Luke 5:16) and told His tired disciples to “rest a while” (Mark 6:31). It means giving up on following Christ.

And we don't fight afraid. In Christ, the enemy's accusations have nothing to hold on to: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). And your joy in Christ is not the devil's to take. Jesus told His grieving disciples, “I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you” (John 16:22). The enemy can't take that joy, but he will work hard to get you to set it down.

From the Song

Don't let the devil steal your — JOY
Don't let him take you out
Don't let him bring fear and doubt
Now is the time to sing and shout

We are heirs of the King
We have immunity
We've been pardoned
We've been freed
We belong to the King

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For Reflection or Discussion

Discussion Questions for Small Groups and Biblical Counseling

For personal study, a small group, or Biblical Counseling. Listen to the song, read Galatians 6:7–10 and Ephesians 6:10–18, then work through these questions.

Read 1 Corinthians 15:57–58. Paul says God “giveth us the victory,” then says, “Therefore... be ye stedfast, unmoveable.” How does knowing the victory is already won change the way you keep going when you're tired?Aim: Root the reader's perseverance in Christ's finished victory, not in willpower.
The song says, “When the enemy attacks, don't let the bullets hit your back. Confront your foe head-on.” Read Ephesians 6:10–18. Where are you tempted to walk away instead of standing? Which piece of God's armor do you most need to put on?Aim: Help the reader see where they're retreating and name the specific provision God has given them.
Galatians 6:9 says, “let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” What good thing are you tempted to give up on because you can't see the harvest yet?Aim: Encourage faithfulness in what's right even when results are slow, trusting God's timing.
The song ends with a list: keep walking, singing, praying, believing, learning, growing, trusting, hoping. Which one have you let slip, and what's one step to pick it back up this week?Aim: Move the reader from encouragement to one concrete step.

More Scripture

Ephesians 6:10–18 · 1 Corinthians 15:57–58 · Romans 6:14 · Romans 8:17 · John 16:22 · Hebrews 12:1–3 · Romans 8:1

Hear the full song at MaverickATC.com/songs/onward-to-zion · Maverick at the Cross

Questions

Questions This Song Answers

What does Galatians 6:9 mean?

It's a promise for anyone tired of doing right without seeing results: “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” The harvest comes in God's time to those who don't give up.

How do I keep going when I feel like giving up?

Keep doing what you know is right, and keep standing in God's strength: “take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:13).

What does “don't let the devil steal your joy” mean?

Our joy rests on what Christ has done, not on our circumstances. The enemy works to rob believers of it through fear, doubt, and accusation, but Jesus said of the joy He gives, “your joy no man taketh from you” (John 16:22).

Is there a Christian song about not giving up?

Yes. “Onward to Zion” is a Redeemed Country song about pressing on, standing your ground, and not letting the enemy steal your joy.

Where can I listen to “Onward to Zion”?

“Onward to Zion” is track 10 on the album Out of the Dust. It's on every major streaming service, and the full lyric video is on YouTube.