By Melissa McLaughlin
When times are hard, when we’re stressed out, worried or down, there is nothing like a song to reset our internal compass. Music can help lift our eyes, minds and hearts, especially when those songs point us to Christ. He is our hope in life and in death. Songs with Christian lyrics remind us we are loved and God is with us always.
Like many of you, I try to start my day with songs of praise and worship. Whether I listen to a recording, sing along or simply sing by myself from my own heart, I find that music helps me remember God. Remember God is good. Remember Jesus gave His life for me and I am His forever. Remember this world is not my home. May the deep love of Jesus give you joy and anchor your soul in His peace.
Here are 12 Christian songs to lift your spirits in hard times. Some are oldies but goodies. Some are new releases. I included the chorus and the link, so you can listen or sing along. No matter the song or music genre, I pray each one is a blessing to you today!
12 Christian Songs to Lift Your Spirits
1. How Great is Our God – By Chris Tomlin 2004
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God
How Great is Our God (World Edition) Featuring Chris Tomlin
2. How Great Thou Art – By Carl Boberg 1885
Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
How Great Thou Art Featuring East Valley Chorale
3. Way Maker – By Sinach 2016
Way maker, miracle worker
Promise keeper, light in the darkness
My God, that is who You
4.Just Believe – By Tommy Walker 2019
It’s You, oh God who’s moving, It’s You, oh God who’s stirring, It’s You, oh God who’s speaking. We believe!
It’s You, oh God who’s saving, It’s You, oh God restoring, It’s You, oh God who’s healing. We believe!
Just Believe Featuring Eileen and Tommy Walker
5.Build My Life – By Pat Barrett 2018
And I will build my life upon Your love, it is a firm foundation
And I will put my trust in You alone and I will not be shaken
Build My Life Featuring Pat Barrett and Cory Asbury
6.All My Hope – By Crowder 2016
All my hope is in Jesus
Thank God that yesterday’s gone
All my sins are forgiven
I’ve been washed by the blood
All My Hope Featuring David Crowder and Tauren Wells
7.Great is Thy Faithfulness – By Thomas Chisholm 1923
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see:
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Great is Thy Faithfulness Featuring Larnelle Harris
8.You are Good – By Israel Houghton 2005
Lord You are good and Your mercy endureth forever
Lord You are good and Your mercy endureth forever
People from every nation and tongue
From generation to generation
We worship you
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
We worship you for who you are
You are Good Featuring Israel Houghton and New Breed
9.O My Soul – By Casting Crowns 2016
Oh, my soul
You are not alone
There’s a place where fear
Has to face the God you know
One more day
He will make a way
Let Him show you how
You can lay this down
’cause you’re not alone
O My Soul Featuring Casting Crowns
10.Is He Worthy? – By Andrew Peterson 2018
Is He worthy? Is He worthy?
Of all blessing and honor and glory
Is He worthy? Is He worthy?
Is He worthy of this?
He is!
Is He worthy? Is He worthy?
He is!
He is!
Is He Worthy? Featuring Chris Tomlin
11.Jesus Loves Me – By Anna Warner 1860
Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak, but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
The Bible tells me so
Jesus Loves Me Featuring Softly-Sung Lullabies for Babies
12. In Christ Alone – By Keith Getty and Stuart Townend 2002
In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My comforter, my all in all
Here, in the love of Christ, I stand
In Christ Alone Featuring Keith and Kristyn Getty
These 12 Christian songs of inspiration barely scratch the surface of worship music that can encourage the heart and buoy the spirit. Do you have a favorite Christian hymn, worship song or praise chorus? Please share it!
May Christ Himself, be the song of our hearts. May His melodies of mercy, grace, truth, love and peace flow from our minds, hearts and lips into a world that needs a song today!
Additional Resources:
When the Spring of My Heart is Overdue By Melissa McLaughlin
Powerful Prayer Tool – Praising Over Pleading By Melissa McLaughlin
Thank you for this list of encouraging songs.
Thank you for joining me here, to gather as believers in Jesus, to lift up His name! May we sing to Jesus like never before!
Hallelujah Amen Thx U, There’s Nothing like the Glorious Music that lift U Up and I Love It. GBU WOG Melissa!👼🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌💃🌞ðŸ‘💖🕊🎶🎶🎶🎶
Thank you for visiting and singing with me, Jackie! God’s gift of music is a special gift. May we use it to honor Him and enjoy Him even more! Blessings to you, dear sister!
The music makes all the difference! I try to listen to some every day to get my morning started! â¤
You said it, Valerie, music makes all the difference! I pray that we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, our hearts lifted in praise and our voices singing His name from now until eternity!
Thank you for this! It’s been a time of quietness and prayer for us with what’s going on in our lives right now, but I’m in need of some uplifting music at this point. I’m going to work my way down this playlist, starting with my favorite. You’ve provided a handy tool.
Songs of praise can do wonders for the mind, body and spirit! I pray this list is a joy to you. It ended up taking me far more time than I expected to compile it because I could not seem to narrow down the choices. Too many beautiful songs of praise to our Lord Jesus! May God put a song in your heart today, dear sister!
I love that you included some older–okay, really old–songs on this list. There’s so much good theology in the old songs. Love Crowder–and first song I heard today was “In Christ Alone.” Love that. Great job here!
You have me smiling, Nancy! I do love the old songs of our faith, just as much as the new ones. If I had my choice, I would have made this the list of 120,000 best Christian songs! But I had to make it do-able! Anyway, may your heart, mind and voice overflow with songs of praise to our Savior today!
A hundred thank yous. These helped to lift my spirits. I will keep this list handy in these difficult days.
Aren’t these wonderful songs?! I was really touched by some of the video presentations, as well. So many beautiful ways to praise our LORD!
Thank you, Melissa. Love all these songs on your list. Especially loving “Way Maker” right now. Such powerful lyrics.
This post has come at such a pertinent time. 🙂 Thank you for the beautiful words of worship to sing to our Great God! Loved this..however the link to Way Maker didn’t work for some reason. Just letting you know.
Thank you for joining in the joy of music, music of Christ! And thank you, Marcie, for the heads up about the Way Maker link! That worked the day I posted this, but since has been removed. I appreciate you letting me know. Added a new link. Anyway, may the Lord Jesus put a new song in your heart today!
I love these songs, Melissa. I am also so blessed and encouraged as I listen and worship along with so many beautiful hymns and contemporary worship songs. We are so blessed right now to have access to so many on Youtube! I remember the old days of playing our few vinyl records over & over until they got scratched up. The Lord knew that we would need His music now to encourage our hearts & look up to Him! Blessings to you, dear sister!
Dear Bettie, thank you for listening along with me! Music alone is a special gift from God, but then add these scriptural lyrics and it becomes a sweet melodic connection to our heavenly Father. I remember those vinyl record days! I played and re-played the first Keith Green album. Some of those songs are planted so deeply in my soul. Thank God for these musicians who point us to our Savior. God bless you, dear Bettie! May the Lord put a song in your heart tonight!
I love all of these. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for stopping by! Music is a sacred gift from God and when we lift our voices in praise of our Savior, it lifts our minds and hearts with it. May God put a song in your heart today!