I recently had a friend ask me how I choose songs for a worship service. I spend a lot of time listening to and looking through music so I knew how to answer that question. I do have particular things I look for in choosing songs for the services and I’d like to share those with you.
Each week when I sit down to plan the music for the upcoming worship services, I ask the Lord to guide my heart and put on my mind the songs for that week. I often ask, “Lord what would You like for us to sing to You when we gather together this week?” He graciously answers and I’m always amazed at how the songs fit together and the sweet worship that we experience.
The songs that I choose from are songs that have met certain criteria I use in choosing songs for the worship services. I always ask myself two questions when I’m looking at a new song. The first is: Do the lyrics line up with Scripture? Don’t choose a song based solely on how it sounds or on how new and current it is. Check out the lyrics to make sure that they are doctrinally sound. If they’re not, choose another song. Some of the current praise and worship songs sound cool and catchy but have lofty phrases in them. If you’re not quite sure what the phrasing even means then go on to another song. There are plenty of great songs out there that do line up with Scripture and honor the Lord.
The second question I ask when choosing a new song is: Are the lyrics of this song focused on God and/or my response to lyrics of this type of song. There are so many great songs available now and Him? If the focus of the song is on the attributes of God, His character or His infinite worth then it’s a song worth using in a worship service. If the song speaks of “me” or “my needs”, it should focus on our amazing God who meets those needs and our proper response to Him.
When we gather together to worship the Lord corporately we want to focus our hearts and minds on Him through the worship music that we sing and the preaching of God’s Word. If we sing songs that dwell on “me” and “I” then we’re changing the focus to ourselves instead of the Lord.
So check the so many gifted Christian writers continually writing songs that honor the Lord. Whether you’re a worship leader choosing songs for the services or a singer choosing a song for your next solo, ask yourselves these questions as you choose the music: Do the lyrics to this song line up with Scripture and does this song focus on God or me? But most of all, spend some time in prayer asking, ”Lord, what would You like for me to sing”?
Make the most of your journey!
Molly
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
So very agreed. As a youth choirs’ director, much prayer is lifted up as I seek to discern the Truth that the Lord has for me to teach the young people in order for them to grow and share the Grace of the Gospel of Christ.
May we all continue to honor His name in serving Him in this calling of music, a very powerful tool in sharing the Gospel.
I love your coments about chooseing the songs you sing. I know it works for me. My Husband is the pastor and doesn’t like for me to ask what the message is about. I have to ask God to lead. I pray that you will be blessed.
sg
i am a gospel singer too,and my music has to hit me i guess thats what you would call it.i listen to a song first and then i really listen again and let the words sink in and then i sing the song to see how it feels and if i feel something when i sing it ,then i know that`s the song for me.i love singing more than anything,espescially for my lord. i have to feel he approves of the song, thanks for listening to my opinion. joyc
Thank you for your insight to picking out songs. It is something I always struggle with. I agree with your focus points and now it should be easier finding a song. Thanks again.
How blessed I was when I ran across this post. I have always felt the same way, but you put it so beautifully into words and make it easier to focus. I will, from here on out, be thankful for your gentle reminder. It is an honor to connect with another Christian such as yourself in this small distant way, and will be glad to meet you “when we get where we are going”. May God Bless you, please say a prayer for me and my family.
Sunny Roads,
Mekisha
Thank you all for your comments. It’s such a blessing to connect with other musicians around the world who are desiring to honor the Lord with the gifts and talents that He has given. As Mekisha said, I will be glad to meet you all in Heaven, if not before. And Mekisha, I am praying for you and your family.
God bless!
Molly
Thanks so much Molly!
I will also ask the LORD what kind of style (rock and roll, hard rock, blue, or country)…He likes.
I love to share your wonderful thought to my pastor.
Tim.