Do Not Lose Heart: My Current Go-to Playlist

I thanked God today for creating music.

I believe that more than I can understand, my life has been shaped by the songs I have heard, put on repeat, and sung. It is amazing and miraculous to me how God uses music to stir our emotions and how when combined with the right truth creatively expressed, our affections for God and the things of God are deepened and awakened.  It has been this way for me for as long as I can remember. (The very first time I was touched by the gospel was hearing my parents singing in choir about someone “dying in my place.” I was only around 7 years old, and I didn’t even know what or who they sang about, but to my embarrassment and surprise, I teared up wondering who and why someone would die for me.) And if you put together a massive soundtrack of all the songs that I chose to listen to throughout the years, you could track my progress in the faith. You could see what I felt and wrestled through and what God was teaching me. The progression in the kind of songs that I have enjoyed throughout the years are a reflection not only of changes in musical preferences, but how God has touched me, grown my love for him, formed my desires, and matured my understanding of what it means to live the Christian life.

This last year or so, the songs I have listened to the most have been put into my “Do Not Lose Heart” playlist. I called it this because 2 Corinthians 1-4 has been huge for me this past year and these songs reflect major themes in what I have been struggling through, learning and enjoying of God- the future glory we have in him, the hope of what God promises the church will be, walking by faith with the community of God, not losing hope in the face of circumstances where I cannot see or understand his ways, and more. They have been on repeat in my iTunes and I thought I’d put it on Spotify to share- just in case they would encourage another as they have encouraged me. I guess you could say it’s my way of “addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” (Ephesians 5:19) over the internet!

And here it is: Faith’s Do Not Lose Heart Playlist. There are 23 tracks. Enjoy and may your hearts be refreshed and encouraged today.

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Edit: Here is a list of the songs and artists:

There is a Fountain – Enfield
Stronger – Hillsong
Sometimes – David Crowder Band
Christ is Risen – Matt Maher
After All (Holy) – David Crowder Band
Desert Song – Hillsong
He is Exalted – Shane & Shane
The Hymn (O What Mercy) – Tim Be Told
I Stand Amazed – Candi Pearson Shelton (on Passion)
Jesus Paid It All – Kristian Stanfill
Like Incense / Sometimes By Step (Live) – Hillsong
The Love of God – MercyMe
Shadows – David Crowder Band
This is Our God – Hillsong
Worthy of Affection – Shane & Shane
You Alone Can Rescue – Matt Redman
Your Grace is Sufficient – Shane & Shane
A Mighty Fortress- Christy Nockels
Oh, Great Love of God – David Crowder Band
10,000 Reasons – Matt Redman
By Faith – Keith & Kristyn Getty
All I Have Is Christ – Sovereign Grace Music (Next Gathering version)
Never Once – Matt Redman