Anyone who has ever been around me in a worship setting has probably heard me emphasize the idea that worship is a RESPONSE. A response to who God is and what He’s done. Whether at a worship team or choir practice, while leading a worship service, or just in general conversation, I’ll come back to this point fairly consistently. I think it’s important that as Jesus-followers we understand what it means to be worshippers – not just while singing a few songs on a given Sunday, but in the way we offer our lives as a living sacrifice to God. A life surrendered to God is our spiritual act of worship (Romans 12:1). While it’s important to emphasize worship as a lifestyle and not contained to just music, I also believe that the songs we sing are a key tool to setting the tone for a worshipful life.
Music has a way of retaining content in our brains. Think about jingles from advertising commercials, hit songs on the radio, or even popular movie themes. The melodies hook us and the lyrics stick with them and dance around in our heads, whether we want them there or not. The same is true with worship music. Whether it be a chorus, a hymn, or even a good beat, these songs stay with us, sometimes for many years, their words shaping our understanding of who God is and what He’s done. When we sing songs in a church worship service, we are, as the psalmist said, “rehearsing what we know of God” (Psalm 42:6 MSG), which allows us to respond with a posture of awe and gratitude there in the moment and as we continue throughout our daily lives.
When I first heard Travis Cottrell’s “Oh My Soul”, it made me want to get up and dance! We’d hoped to introduce this song for our Easter service, but ended up delaying until we could meet in person. We shared it at our outdoor service a few weeks ago and will share it again this Sunday. The message of the song is a simple invitation to response. When we recognize who God is and what He’s done we cannot help but respond with celebration! We lean in to the wonder of God’s great mercy and love toward us and allow it to reinforce our identity in Christ as we continue on mission as his disciples.
Looking for some music to enrich your personal worship throughout the week? Check our Calvary Worship Favorites playlist on Spotify. It’s an assortment of songs that we sing on the regular during our Sunday worship services.
If you want to get a taste of what we’ll be singing on any upcoming Sunday, check out our This Sunday At Calvary playlist. This list is updated weekly with the songs we’re planning to lead at the upcoming Sunday service.
Psalm 34:1-3
I will extol the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
I will glory in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together.
Psalm 103:1-5
Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Oh My Soul
Father of mercy
King of all kings
Even in darkness
I will sing I will sing
‘Cause I've been set free
Running out of the grave
Set free all my sin washed away
Set free breaking out of the chains
And I'm alive
Oh my soul lift up the name
Of the One who saves
He reigns forever
Oh my soul lift up Your praise
I will rise and bless the Lord
Oh my soul
Oh my soul
Oh my soul
Oh my soul
High as the heavens
Deep as the sea
How great Your love
That rescued me rescued me
I will sing Your goodness
I will sing Your grace
I will love You all my days all my days
CCLI Song # 7141764
David E. Moffitt | Jeff Pardo | Travis Cottrell
© 2019 Great Revelation Music (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.)
TimeChange Music (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.)
Universal Music - Brentwood Benson Publishing (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.)
Da Bears Da Bears Da Bears Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Meaux Jeaux Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
For use solely with the SongSelect®. Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License # 702888