Do you have your favorite music playlist? Do certain songs bring back memories you do not want to let go of because of the happy times you experienced and the first time you heard the song? It would seem every decade of time has distinct types of music and certain musicians live with us today even though they may have passed years ago. Consider the King of Rock, Elvis. Can you believe he has been gone since 1977?
We live remarkably busy lives, and we often struggle to make time for the things that we consider important to us but there is always time to listen to our music, right? It could be when we are driving down the road, or mowing the lawn, or taking a shower, or… “Don’t change that station,” I often hear. “I was listening to that song!”
Many years ago, we had a pastor who challenged us with taking to heart the songs that we sang together in church. He had some favorites that we sang often at Mass. As I began to contemplate the words of those songs and think of them more deeply certain songs began to resonate in my whole being. I even secretly adopted one of them to be my personal theme song to give direction to my life.
Slowly I began to listen to Christian music from different songwriters and composers. The more I listened to Christian music the more I deeply listened to the messaging within them, and I could sense the power of those messages speaking to me personally.
I believe that God speaks to each of us (when we are open to hearing Him) in many different ways. He speaks to us through each other, through prayer, in receiving the Eucharist, in music and many other ways. For me, music was a way that God found a way to reach me just long enough for me to hear His messages. I come from a slow group so I am sure God could get impatient with me when it took a while for me to get it.
If you do not listen to Christian music now I encourage you to start listening. When we pay close attention to the words in the music and have a disposition to want to hear God’s messages, I believe just like the Bible, God reaches out to us and plants thoughts in our minds, hearts and souls that will make a significant difference to the relationship we have with Him and in our lives. If you have not listened to Christian music outside of Mass than you may feel a little strange about it at first but trust me, it is worth making the move. Make the move to shelf your favorites for a while and take the first steps in subtly drawing yourself closer to God with music. Those times when it is just you driving down the road or doing projects by yourself. The key is to just start.
Here are some resources and some examples that are valuable to me that I hope you too will appreciate. You can find great Christian music on Youtube.com and Pandora. On Pandora a couple of stations that offer great music for reflection include Dan Schutte Radio and Paul Cardall Radio. Dan Schutte Radio has a wide variety including some music you hear at church. Paul Cardall Radio focuses on instrumental music. I look at the titles of the music on his station and consider what sort of message may God want me to hear as I listen to this music, and listen for His voice.
Let me share some examples with you. If you already enjoy Christian music than Hallelujah! I hope the following offers you some great additions:
Be Still and Know by Maranatha Music!. Just the title invites us to do exactly that. Be still. Let God fill us with the knowledge and wisdom that He wishes to have us live our lives with. The more we listen for Him, the more He will share what He has ready for us to take in.
He Will Not Let Go by Laura Story. His love and His mercy are what we need to take in and respond.
Your Whole Life Long by Twila Paris. A beautiful prayer for us and for us to pass on.
Do Not Be Afraid by David Haas. A reminder that we need to constantly hear and live with.
My Worth is Not in What I Own by Keith and Kristyn Getty. Our true value.
Here I Am, Lord by John Michael Talbot. Our call to ministry?
Where There is Faith by 4Him. You are not alone…
When God Ran by Phillips Craig Dean. Put yourself in this song and be ready!
I Can Only Imagine by MercyMe. God’s incredible promise to us.
In Christ Alone by Keith and Kristyn Getty. Comfort…
Draw Me Nearer by Meredith Andrews. Feeding our hunger for God.
Prayer for Peace by David Haas. A very calming prayer, an awareness of God.
What Have We Done for the Poor Ones by David Haas. A call to mission.
If inspirational instrumental music is more appealing than here is a list for you:
Redeemer by Paul Cardall
Glorious by David Tolk
Prayer Changes Everything by f18ehornet
Two Spirits Soar by Brian Crain
I Give You My Heart/Be Thou My Vision by David Carnes
Live to Love by Paul Cardall
Eden by David Tolk
Beauty of Grace by Thad Fiscella
This is just a small example of the inspiring music that can help lead us to a closer relationship with God. The most incredible thing is how the more we listen and place ourselves in a disposition to hear Him, the more we want to draw closer to God. I pray that we are always open to hearing God’s voice whether in music, in prayer or in any other fashion that God seeks to speak with us so that we may Shine like His Son.
(Feel free to share your comments and share this post with others)
My Sunday morning wake up is on Pandora with John Michael Talbot, but it does play some of the other music similar to his and it gets me ready for the day. Some great artists that you listed. I think our mother for instilling in us to have music from the time we get up until the time go to bed at night and listen to the words of Christian music.