During our current summer series, we said that spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3;16) reveal the intent of our heart.  They are rooted in the Scriptures and link our belief and our will together, as an expression of a longing to follow God’s Word and His ways.  In my previous post, I shared with you some of the great hymns of our faith that reasonate deeply with me.  Below is a list spiritual songs that also connect powerfully with my heart.

Sole Desire - Walt Harrah

You’re the sole desire of my heart
Lord, speak to me I’m standing still
I come to hear, reveal Your will
I’ll listen to Your voice and then obey

With these simple words, I am reminded that God does speak, that His Word to me is precious and that I need to listen and obey.  I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying.  (85:8 - NLT)

I Give You My Heart - Reuben Morgan

This is my desire to honour You
Lord with all my heart I worship You

I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. (Psalm 146:2)
 
In the words of A.W. Tozer…I cannot speak for you, but I want to be among those who worship...I would rather worship God than do any other thing I know of in this whole world.

O Lord, You're Beautiful - Keith Green

Oh Lord You're beautiful, Your face is all I seek
And when Your eyes are on this child, Your grace abounds to me

Words cannot fully express my desire to embrace the beauty and grace of the Lord Jesus. In the words of the psalmist:  One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. (Psalm 27:4)

Emmanuel - Bob McGee

Emmanuel, Emmanuel, His name is called Emmanuel
God with us revealed in us, His name is called Emmanuel

Can there be a more precious truth than to know, God is with us?  And, If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

His Name is Wonderful - Audrey Mieir

His name is Wonderful, Jesus my Lord

Like many of these worships songs that focus on the name of our Lord, this song speaks of our Lord as the Mighty King, Master of everything, the great Shepherd, the Rock of all ages, Almighty God.  Our hearts and minds are drawn to the great Shepherd of the sheep (Hebrews 13:20).

Majesty - Jack Hayford

Majesty, worship His majesty, unto Jesus be all glory, honor, and praise

Both the words of Hayford's song and the tune lift us to see the slendor and glory of our Lord.

We see Jesus...now crowned with glory and honor. (Hebrews 2:9)

No Higher Calling - Greg Gulley and Lenny LeBlanc

Down at Your feet, Oh Lord, ss the most high place
In Your presence Lord, I seek Your face

As I shared with you in week one of this series, worship is my heart beat.  I can't read music, or play an instrument, but worship is my heart beat.  This song expresses perfectly the my desire to worship our Lord.

There is no higher calling, no greater honor, than to bow and kneel before Your throne
I'm amazed at Your glory, embraced by Your mercy, Oh Lord, I live to worship You

Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. (Psalm 103:1 - NLT)

Make Me a Servant - Kelly Willard

Make me a servant, humble and meek
Lord, let me lift up, those who are weak
And may the prayer of my heart always be
Make me a servant, make me a servant, make me a servant, today

The challenges of ministry, of seeking to serve others, is something I am constantly aware of as I seek to live out the words of Galatians 5:13 to serve one another humbly in love.  This simple song, serves a daily prayer for me.

Awesome in This Place - Dave Billington

You are awesome in this place Mighty God
You are awesome in this place Abba Father
You are worthy of all our praise, to You our lives we raise
You are awesome in this place Mighty God

This captures for me the incredible privilege that is ours to be in the in presence of our God as we gather each week to worship Him.  How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God (Genesis 28:17).

In Christ Alone - Don Kock, Shawn Craig 

In Christ alone I place my trust
And find my glory in the power of the cross
In ev'ry victory let it be said of me
My source of strength my source of hope is Christ alone

'Christ alone' what more needs to be said!  Christ lives in me (Galatians 2:20 - The Message).

s we are launching this summers series on hymns of our faith, it started me thinking about those songs that most speak to my heart.  The following is a list of my top ten favorite hymns.

And Can It Be - by Charles Wesley

In a very real sense, this song is my testimony.  I think of the words of Titus 3:4-5...when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. When I ponder the reality that Jesus suffered and died on the cross, to provide for my salvation, like Wesley, I marvel...Died He for me, who caused his pain.  I remember the night, my chains fell off, my heart was free -- amazing love, how can it be that Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

My Savior's Love - Charles H. Gabriel

In the same vein as Wesley's great hymn -- Gabriel begins with words that resonate deeply with me:  I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene, and wonder how you could love me, a sinner condemned, unclean.  With the Apostle Paul, I am humbled to know that Jesus loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).

Be Thou My Vision - Mary E. Bryne

Each time we sing this song, there is a deep sense of gratitude within as I reflect on the realization that there is a High King of Heaven who is the Ruler of all, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth (Genesis 14:22).

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God - Martin Luther

I appreciate the history and depth of theology in Luther's great hymn, that speaks of the triumph of the Truth.
Rooted in the words of Psalm 46:1, God is our refuge and strength, the picture of God as a fortress brings courage to my heart.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness - Thomas O Chisholm

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 2:22-23)  Whenever I sing this song, I think of the time when Janice's dad passed away.  The words of the last verse sustained me then and continue to speak to me when the hard times come...strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine with ten thousand beside!

Amazing Grace - John Newton
Unbounded Grace - John Walvrood

What list of favourites hymns would not include Newton's Amazing Grace.  The words of second verse take me back to the night I surrender my heart to the Lord Jesus.  'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.  It is by grace you have been saved, through faith (Ephesians 2:8).  In the words of Walvrood, Grace was for me the only way my guilt could find relief; my destiny was changed that day I reached out in belief.  40+ years later, I'm still amazed by His grace!

Holy, Holy, Holy - Reginald Heber

The pure majesty of this hymn draws me into the very presence of our God, who is high and lifted up.  Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory (Isaiah 6:3).

I Sing the Mighty Power of God - Issac Watts

This hymn from the pen of one our the greatest hymn writers in history -- remind me that, The Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them. (Exodus 20:11)  He is the Creator and Sustainer of all life, including mine.  The words of the last line of this hymn are both humbling and awe-inspiring:  While all that borrows life from Thee is ever in Thy care, and everywhere that man can be, Thou God, are present there.

The Longer I Serve Him - William J. Gaither

As one who has been called and privileged to serve in pastoral ministry, I echo the word of the Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 1:12:  I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service.  This song strengthens my resolve to be a life-long worshipper and servant of God, my Savior.  

I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. (Psalm 146:2)