Austin Johnson began serving on the worship team at Bethel Church in 2014 and launched his career as a songwriter for Bethel Music in 2018. Austin is passionate about serving the church through writing and leading songs that inspire the Body to offer an honest, true, and wholehearted response to who God is and all He has done – cultivating a people whose greatest desire is to minister to Him above all else.

One of the greatest privileges as a songwriter is to write songs that impact the Church and help her worship Jesus.

I’ve never lost sight of the weight and responsibility that comes when the Bride of Christ gives worship to Him with lyrics and melodies that all began in a quiet moment alone or in a room with some friends. I’ll never grow tired of that pursuit. But the day we set out to write Inhabit, our goal was a little different.

A few short years ago, my friends David, Emmy, and I got together with one simple intention: to write a song for our home church, Bethel. As we sifted through ideas, I remembered a small prayer that I had written down in a note on my phone:

“I just want to be a place for You to dwell
A habitation here that hosts You well.”

That honest prayer was inspired by Pastor Bill Johnson’s book Hosting The Presence. Since hosting God’s presence is central to who we are as a house, it felt natural to include it as an option. Jesus modeled a life where the Spirit of God rested and remained. Bill often asks us how we would walk if a dove were resting on our shoulder–one we didn’t want to leave. The answer: every step with the dove in mind.

Over the next few hours, much of the verses and chorus of Inhabit began to take shape around that prayer. We pulled from Scriptures like Psalm 27, Philippians 3, and Romans 12 to craft lyrics that expressed our longing to be a resting place for the Lord here on earth.

Finishing the song took several months after that initial write, with the bridge needing the most work. As I reflected on the theme, I remembered something my friend Michael Koulianos had said in a recent message:

“Life’s greatest achievement and privilege is to know and love the Lord.”

When I heard it, it hit me in my core–as if someone had spoken aloud what I was born for. Because it’s true: it’s what we are all born for. That statement sparked an idea, and the bridge began to take shape.

It wasn’t long before we started singing Inhabit in church, and soon after, it began to take off in our services. Our original goal had been accomplished: to write a song for our home church.

We didn’t initially set out to release this song to the world, but what a privilege that it has found life and meaning for people beyond our church community. I believe this goes to show that believers everywhere share the same desire at their core: to host the Spirit of God and be His dwelling place–the greatest gift we have been given.

— Austin Johnson

Bethel Music

One of the greatest privileges as a songwriter is to write songs that impact the Church and help her worship Jesus.

A few short years ago, my friends David, Emmy, and I got together with one simple intention: to write a song for our home church, Bethel. As we sifted through ideas, I remembered a small prayer that I had written down in a note on my phone:

Over the next few hours, much of the verses and chorus of Inhabit began to take shape around that prayer. We pulled from Scriptures like Psalm 27, Philippians 3, and Romans 12 to craft lyrics that expressed our longing to be a resting place for the Lord here on earth.

“Life’s greatest achievement and privilege is to know and love the Lord.”

Bethel Music, Austin Johnson, Kory Miller, Hannah Waters | Inhabit

Thrive Worship