While we’re talking about Christian music and how we should or shouldn’t define it, let’s take some time today to share Christian music songs that really inspire us. I’d love you to share lyrics, too.
Todd Agnew told me once that he started to really consider the lyrics he was singing and that if he really didn’t mean them or understand them, he wouldn’t sing them. He used the line “Here I raise mine Ebenezer” from “Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing” as an example. How could he sing about raising his Ebenezer until he knew what it meant? (When I asked him what it meant, he told me to go look it up myself. Gotta love Todd Agnew, teacher at heart.)
But he brings up a good point. How many of the songs we sing contain things we don’t actually mean? When you sing “I Surrender All” so you really mean that you surrender all? When you sing “Here I Am Lord, Send Me” do you really mean that if he sends you, you’ll go? When you sing about being washed in the blood, have you really been washed in the blood?
It’s just something that has me thinking a lot about song and hymn lyrics.
So what are some lyrics that inspire you or really speak to you? Maybe it’s a love song. Maybe it’s a worship song. Maybe it’s a song that just makes you want to throw your hands up to the heavens and dance with joy. Maybe it’s an old hymn that brings a tear to your eye. Maybe it’s a song of committment or rededication.
A couple of songs that really speak to me:
I’m quite fond of old hymns that really tell the story of Jesus, like “Victory in Jesus:”
I heard an old, old story,
How a Savior came from glory,
How He gave His life on Calvary
To save a wretch like me;
I heard about His groaning,
Of His precious blood’s atoning,
Then I repented of my sins
And won the victory.
CHORUS:
O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood.
I heard about His healing,
Of His cleansing pow’r revealing.
How He made the lame to walk again
And caused the blind to see;
And then I cried, “Dear Jesus,
Come and heal my broken spirit,”
And somehow Jesus came and bro’t
To me the victory.
CHORUS
I heard about a mansion
He has built for me in glory.
And I heard about the streets of gold
Beyond the crystal sea;
About the angels singing,
And the old redemption story,
And some sweet day I’ll sing up there
The song of victory.
But there are so many modern songs, too. Whenever I play Starfield’s “Filled With Your Glory,” I have to put the windows down and raise my hand out the window (that happens for me with a lot of Starfield songs):
In my heart, in my heart, there’s a fire burning
A passion deep within my soul
Not slowing down, not growing cold
An unquenchable flame that keeps burning brighter
A love that’s blazing like the sun
For who You are and what You’ve done
And as the fire is raging on
So Your praise becomes my song
The whole earth
Is filled with Your glory, Lord
Angels and men adore
Creation longs for what’s in store
(Mountains bow and oceans roar)
May You be
Honored and glorified
Exalted and lifted high
Here at Your feet I lay my life
From the ends of the earth
To the heights of Heaven
Your glory, Lord, is far and wide
Through history You reign on high
From the depths of the sea
To the mountain’s summit
Your power, Lord, it knows no bounds
A higher love cannot be found
So let the universe proclaim
Your great power and Your great name
One last one (I could name hundreds) – is a song we sing at a SIdewalk Club during Flower City Work Camp. Seriously, it’s a kid’s song and it even has some hand motions. But it’s such a basic way to tell children who God is:
You molded every mountain
You poured out every sea
The world is your creation
And yet you’re here with me
Maker of all things
You are a mighty king
And mighty is your love for me.
How about you? What are some songs that inspire you?
RELATED POST
Does (or Should) Christian Music Really Help You Become A Christian?
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posted February 4, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Many songs help to inspire but none touch the core of your being like a Christian song. The words seem to literally seep into your very soul and you become aware suddenly that there are greater things then what you simply see around you with earthly eyes. Some that never fail to lift me up when I’m sadden, lost, angry, tired are the following;
Roses Will Bloom Again
Jesus Loves Me
Open The Eyes Of My Heart Lord
I’m So Glad Jesus Found Me
How Great Is Our God
One Day At A Time
Amazing Grace
People Need the Lord
and like you I could name many many more.
posted February 4, 2009 at 1:32 pm
I Can Only Imagine really hit me when it first came out, though I wrestle with songs that talk about looking forward to heaven not because I don’t want to go there but because I really struggle when it sounds like people want to die.
My Jesus by Todd Agnew may be the most prophetic song (in the Isaiah/Jeremiah “get your act together, church!” sense) ever written and I love it.
I’m also kind of partial to the song One Life to Love by 33 Miles
I See You is probably my favorite worship song because of the context in which I first heard and sang it.
Nearly anything by Mark Schultz will hit me as well. I love musicians who tell me a story.
posted February 4, 2009 at 3:14 pm
I Can Only Imagine is a great one. Thief by Third Day was the first song that really, really impacted me. I was new to Christian music and something about the personal-ness (don’t think that’s a word) of that song overwhelmed me. It got me into a big Third Day phase and this is one of my favorite lines that they’ve ever come up with:
“All I want is love
I confess to this
I will take you Lord
All You have…to give.”
Give by Third Day
posted February 4, 2009 at 4:00 pm
I am the kind of person who doesn’t pay attention to a song’s lyrics, in general, so what I listen for is its rhythm and its hook (which is usually the chorus, or a line in the chorus).
The few songs I do pay attention to lyrically in the Christian music world include:
Undo by Rush of Fools
Shine by newsboys (just the chorus)
Give Me Your Eyes by Brandon Heath
I Live For You by True Vibe
If you asked me to sing those songs, I’d have no idea what the words were, but I know I liked the songs overall and they had lyrics that hooked me.
posted February 16, 2009 at 2:14 pm
I am actually in a worship band called :Broken Praise Band: at my church Genesis in Cumming,GA. I have to say for me playing each sunday the songs our worship leader picks are always spirit moving songs. We as a band even struggle with what songs to do sometimes. Sometimes they come to mind quickly other times we have to pray about it.We also do songs that the worship leader has written and his brother has written also. Some of the ones we currently do are:
My Savior Lives
Hosannah
Overcome
Sweetly Broken
Everything Glorious
Mighty to Save
Shout your Fame
Teach Me Oh Lord- written by our worship leader
Oceans
Just to name a few.
I certainly believe in what we do and the words and music we play.
It music and lyrics that get into your heart and soul, you cant help but worship God.
posted February 26, 2009 at 8:19 pm
I can only Imagine is such a beautiful song and it makes you think just how wonderful it will be when we finally meet our Lord face to face. How great is our God is also one that speaks to me. and an oldie…How great thou art is timeless. Last but not least and one that just makes you want to get up and sing and dance is One Way Jesus by Hillsong….there’s nothing like seeing my 3 year old sing and dance to such a great song.
posted February 28, 2009 at 6:07 am
I would like to see some Worship & Praise songs sent to me please just written
Thanks, be blessed
posted April 1, 2009 at 11:00 pm
Most poetic Christian song “Every Grain of Sand” Bob Dylan
Comforting during hard times “Blessing in Disguise” The Lost Dogs
Radical Calls for Cross-bearing Life “That’s Where Jesus Is” The Lost Dogs & “Cast Your Cares Upon Him” John Michael Talbot
Powerful Praise “Shout to the Lord” Hillsongs
In your face evangelism “Why Don’t You Look Into Jesus” Larry Norman
Seeing God behind all things “If I Stand” Rich Mullins
Hope “Verge of a Miracle” Rich Mullins
Longing for the presence of God “Lord of Eternity” Fernando Ortega
Heartbreaking Call for Mercy “Who Will Save the Children” Randy Stonehill and Phil Keaggy
posted April 22, 2009 at 3:35 pm
A song that has really blessed me lyrically lately is “Gifted Response” by Ashmont Hill
posted June 26, 2009 at 1:45 am
I’d have to say that song lyrics by Tyrone Wells. While he’s not a proclaimed Christian music artist, he is certainly a Christian himself and his lyrics are strongly influenced by his faith.
The song that actually keeps me going everyday is his song “More”
I know there’s something more,
Than what we’re living for,
I see it in the stars,
I feel it on the shores,
I know there’s something,
I know there’s something more.
Look up the complete lyrics, but the song is absolutely amazing. Definitely worth buying on iTunes