THE ACT OF WORSHIP

(Post by: Colton) Blogmas Day Thirteen 2024

Tis’ the season of Apple Music Replay and Spotify Wrapped. For those of you who may be unaware of what this might be, Apple Music and Spotify (both music platforms) collect your most listened to/favorite songs and artists from the past year.

They then give you a recap to let you know how many minutes you have listened to, or how many times you’ve played a specific song or an artist’s music throughout the year. 

In 2024, I listened to 18,422 minutes of music. My favorite artist this year was Chris Renzema, and my favorite song was “Counting my Blessings” by Seph Schlueter. My top genre was Christian.

I don’t share my recap as a means to boast. My reason for sharing this with you is that it is an influential part of my testimony, because about three years ago those songs and artists would have been completely different and very secularized.

I’ve been listening to Christian music for almost two years now, and it has honestly been one of the most powerful parts of my walk with Jesus. It has taught me so much about worship and struggle.

It has taught me valuable lessons that the artists I used to listen to in my BC (before Christ) days intentionally neglect sharing in their songs.

Music is a huge part of the world we live in today and it affects us more than we know. 

Much of the secular music that is created today pushes evil agendas regarding sex, drugs, and literally everything else the enemy wants to use to destroy us.

In my BC days, I would intentionally listen to the songs that made me feel the emotions I wanted to feel. If I was angry, I would pick songs that glorified anger. If I was sad or depressed, I would pick songs that would tear me down even more.

Music is powerful, and it has the power to impact our beliefs, our emotions, and most importantly our spiritual walk with Jesus.  

I have noticed that as I have intentionally started listening to spiritually uplifting music, my mood has changed, and I view the things of the world differently. Christian music helps us to keep our focus where it should be.

It constantly preaches to our souls and acknowledges the struggles and temptations we face on a daily basis and reminds us that no matter what we are going through, we can praise and glorify the Lord in the midst of it!

Music is no longer just music to me, it’s a form of worship. We all have rough days, and sometimes we make them harder than they really need to be. Especially in the pain and suffering, I would encourage you to play the music that will move you closer to Jesus and not farther away.

My challenge is this… Be bold and don’t fall into the “it’s just music” trap the enemy pushes on us daily. Listen to the songs that will lift you up and make you seek more of Jesus.

This act of worship may seem insignificant, but think about it this way… When we praise the Lord through song, we join the angels who even now are in Heaven singing “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God almighty.” (Revelation 4:8)