My friend Ed Cash also produced a few of the tracks as well and he's been a big part of my music for a long time.

I want people to feel it in their guts when they sing a song like "Crown Him" or "Thank You God For Saving Me" or "Whom Shall I Fear?"

That's what we're trying to do in these songs and really capture the emotion and write them in a way that is singable for people.Burning Lights was met with positive reception from the critics.

James Christopher Monger of AllMusic rated the album four-out-of-five stars stating the album "stays true to the worship leader's penchant for crafting immaculately rendered slabs of inspirational modern rock that crib from Britpop, AOR rock, and folk, but they hardly sound phoned in.

Besides his artfully wound songrwriting the project includes compelling collaborations with Lecrae, Christy Nockels, Kari Jobe and Phil Wickham.

[8] Louder Than the Music's Dave Wood gave it a perfect rating noting how Burning Lights' "sets a new milestone on the worship song highway, breaking new ground with its mix of fresh relevant vibes and more established style of congregational worship.

[11] Kevin Davis of New Release Tuesday was superbly positive to the album and rated it a perfect five stars.

He exclaimed that "Burning Lights is my new favorite overall album by Chris Tomlin...They are all instantly sing-able and worshipful arrangements that you'll want to add to your Sunday morning set-list.

"[12] USA Today music critic Brian Mansfield rated the album three-out-of-four noting that if you "walk into any evangelical church on Sunday, and chances are the congregation will sing at least one Tomlin song.

"[13] Andrea Hunter of Worship Leader rated the album a perfect five stars stating that "Burning Lights is the quintessential representation of solid songwriting married to classic commercial pop recording.

"[14] Jesus Freak Hideout's Roger Gelwick and Alex "Tincan" Caldwell rated Burning Lights three-out-of-five stars in a somewhat negative review.

Gelwick stated that while "there are refreshing changes that show Tomlin's willingness to venture into uncharted territory on occasion," the second half of the album was "a flickering disappointment in the end.