Almost a decade ago, Matt Redman in his song "Dancing Generation" prophesied that God is in the process of raising a dancing generation.  A new aeon of believers who are so secured in their faith in Jesus Christ that they would still be dancing before the Almighty despite cancer or the loss of a job or the breakdown of their dreams.  That despite life's setbacks they are not willing to be paralyzed by shame or guilt or depression.  Rather they would choose to return to God's dance floor ready to swirl in joyous divine abandonment again.  A new epoch of God's children who are willing to redeem back the Biblical word "dancing;" a word which has been hijacked by Satan for far too long.  A word Satan has so shamelessly overturned from an act of worship into a snicker word for the exercise of lust.  God's dance floor has never been hotter since Martin Smith has offered us the platform via the release of his four mini EPs last year.  This year this former lead singer of Christian band Delirious has consolidated those four EPs into two full-length albums with new songs thrown in to further our dancing moves before God.  "God's Great Dance Floor Step 002" as the titular suggests is Smith's second full-length album comprising of songs from EP3 and EP4 with three new songs augmented into the collection. 

Of the three new songs, lead single "You Are My Salvation" is already sashaying its way into the dance floor of many churches.  Co-writing with Smith on this song is none other than Hillsong's Reuben Morgan.  Not only is Morgan responsible for crafting some of the Australian mega-church's staples such as "Mighty to Save," "Cornerstone" and "Christ is Enough," Morgan rarely writes outside the Hillsong repertoire.  So, it is genuinely a treat for him to grace us with the newly penned "You Are My Salvation."  Featuring a funky drum machine, "You Are My Salvation" like many of Morgan's compositions starts off in an understated bluesy-balladry demeanor.  Just like scaffolds are added one layer at a time various instruments are then progressively added before the chorus explodes in a declarative way exalting the fact that it is only in Jesus we are saved.  Despite its title, the second new song "Emmanuel" is not imbued with the usual Christmas schmaltzy of bells and strings.  Rather, "Emmanuel" borders on the expected modern worship flair of crashing guitars and pounding drums.  Much better is the third in the trio of newbies, "Great is Your Faithfulness."  Rather than revamping the old hymn of the same title, co-writters Smith and the aforementioned Matt Redman have used this Thomas Chisholm chestnut as the song's lyrical seed hook before building new words and a glowing beautiful melody around it.

Of the formerly released songs, the title cut "God's Great Dance Floor" has literally floored its co-writer Chris Tomlin and also Hillsong matriarch Darlene Zschech.  In her tweets as well as her public interviews, Zschech has confessed more than once that this song is by far one of her absolute worship gems.  A song tantamount on showing how God's grace allows us to dance again for Him despite our sins and setbacks, here Smith invites us with open arms into this dance. Embracing Godly dance lovers from all eras you will hear throughout this track some funky Motown brassy horns, some 80s disco synth swirls and some post Millennium groovy electronic beats.   If "Song of Solomon" sounds familiar it is because it first was released on Jesus Culture and Martin Smith's "Live from New York" effort.  On this piano ballad subtlety takes a long service leave as Smith sings without restraint how much God loves us.  When Smith sings a line like "Over the mountains, over the sea, here you come running, my lover to me" we can't help but basked in the hot flushes of love as we are cosseted in the loving embrace of Jesus Christ. 

You cannot get a greater combination of songwriters than Michael W. Smith and Martin Smith.  Here the two Smiths share a pen on the lush string-cum-piano-driven ballad "Grace."  If you are ever at a time when you feel like all your strength is gone and all you have is Jesus Christ, "Grace" will minister to you so passionately especially when Smith sings:  "I'll be a fool, for the king of love/You gave me wings so I could fly, you gave me a song to color the sky/And all I have is all from you/And all I want is all of you."  Dancing with God has never been sweeter than in such grace-filled moments.  So, do yourself a favor, throw off your sneakers and put on your dancing shoes.  Let's learn to dance before God with a faith-filled trust that regardless of our circumstances we will always choose to move in joy for Him.  And let Martin Smith's latest release provide the soundtrack and the dance steps as we worship Him with our feet and our hearts.