Singing and Bringing a Prayer for a Refined Heart: Q & A with Iveth Luna

Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Eph. 5:1-2)

Iveth Luna is part of a new generation of worship leaders whose ministry and art are securely built on “The Rock,” Jesus. Her compelling fusion of musical styles, melodic skill, lyrical accessibility and depth have a global reach. Iveth celebrates a wide expanse of expression, singing in both Spanish and English with her ultimate focus always and ever on delivering a message of God’s truth and love.  

WL What have been your biggest blessings and your greatest challenges on the course you have chosen in music? 

IL Biggest blessing: I get to do what I love, and it blesses people. 

Greatest challenge: Surrendering to God’s will in what the future holds. Not my will but His will be done- whatever that looks like. 

WL Do you see music as vocation, ministry, gifting, call…or all of these?

IL I truly believe that God has called me to do this because He confirmed it to me in a vision 10 years ago… that I would sing for Him. Growing up I never thought I would be in ministry, but God opened doors for me as young as 16 to lead people in worship. When members of the church would come up to me to share how they felt God’s presence when I led worship, it assured me that it was a ministry that God put together… Because doors weren’t opened by striving, He confirmed in me that by His hand, this would also be a vocation. It’s so humbling to have a calling, a ministry and a vocation tied into one. Since it was first revealed to me as a calling, I choose to see it that way because a calling is never really about you, it’s about serving the kingdom.

…a calling is never really about you, it’s about serving the kingdom.

WL How do you keep that perspective in balance when you receive amazing honors and reviews from the press and radio, such as being named one of the “Top 10 Unforgettable Artists of 2022”?

IL It is a huge honor to get recognition from people for my music, I am so grateful for moments like these. However, I heard it in a sermon once: to acknowledge these compliments and collect them, and by the end of the day we can get on our knees and hand over the crown that people have given us and offer it to the King. This changed my perspective on compliments and accolades. I think we are allowed to celebrate the good things God blesses us with, like good grades, marriage, promotions, but to remind yourself to thank God because without Him we really couldn’t do it. Gratitude is a testament to His goodness, which leads to humility because we acknowledge what He’s done.

WL Chart the course to your signing with Red Street Records in 2021 and what influenced your decision? How do you believe that has impacted your call to music?

IL I signed in 2021, but the year before this, I took a break from music…He revealed to me that my priorities were out of line, and he wanted to work on my heart and character. I really idolized music—my dreams—and I got to a point where I hit rock bottom because life wasn’t happening the way I thought God had told me it would, and frankly, the way I wanted it to go. I had to remember that the only thing that filled me in the past was God’s love and His presence. I came to a point where I surrendered the dream because I was completely satisfied in the Lord, and I was willing to serve “however,” and go “wherever” He was going to lead me. That is when the flip switched, and things started happening. This was and still is my tangible reminder to always keep God at the center of my dreams and goals, and He will handle the rest.

WL You have said, “I’m intentional about what I want to say, and I always ask, ‘Lord what do you want Your Church to know? How do you want to encourage Your Church? What do You want them to sing?’” So, in this moment, what do you believe the Lord is saying? 

IL I believe that the Lord pours out His Spirit in a lot of different ways and themes for different needs. I feel like the Lord wants to remind Christians of the power of His love and compassion: the simple gospel and heart of Jesus. It’s the “why” behind what we do: “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). When we lead with the compassion of Christ, we truly become His hands and feet to the hurting.  People need the real gospel, the life-giving, and healing gospel. Ephesians 5:1-2.

WL Much of your family was and is in ministry. What about them helped you stay anchored to the Lord, rather than running away?

IL I never thought I would be in ministry but all I knew was that I loved church. My family helped me by bringing me to church every Sunday growing up. When I had questions, they would take me to God’s Word. We prayed together and for people. Even as a child, I witnessed the change in people’s hearts when they gave their lives to Jesus. Those moments and the fact that Jesus was also very personal to me as a child, kept me anchored to the Lord.

WL How do you continue to grow in intimacy with the Lord when you are on the road and when you are at home? 

IL I believe church is a big part when it comes to growing in intimacy with the Lord. Community and doing life with brothers and sisters in Christ are essential to sharpen one another. I also believe that alone time with the Lord when no one is around crucial as well. Even Jesus left the crowds to be alone with the Father. Things I do in my personal time with the Lord are reading the Bible, journaling—I like to write out my prayers and conversations with God—and just spending time worshiping Him in private.

WL As you worship Him, are there any prayers that are missing in the Church? Or are there missing themes you would like to share and contribute to?

IL There are a lot of prayers that still need to be sung. In the Psalms, David and others had hundreds of songs/different prayers. I think one thing we should always be praying is a prayer for God to refine our hearts to look more like His, so we live out Ephesians 5:1-2.

WL What is your vision for the near future in bringing your fusion of pop, Latin, and worship to the listening world?

IL I would say my vision is to keep writing and keep singing so that I can continue to see “His will be done.” If worship or pop is the vehicle that continues to make that happen, then praise the Lord! If my sound changes, I can promise that the message and the heart behind my message won’t.

Listen to Iveth Luna’s latest release, “Just Like Jesus,” wherever music is streamed. “Just Like Jesus” is available in English and Spanish and encapsulates Iveth’s deeply rooted faith, gratitude, captivating story-telling and desire to turn hearts to the only One who can answer our inmost longings and needs. Purchase and download “Just Like Jesus” here.

Iveth Luna featured on SongDiscovery and sings an acoustic version of “Just Like Jesus.”

Official Music Video for “Just Like Jesus”

Iveth Luna on The Walk