College can be seen as a time when your faith may not be as strong as normal, because maybe you aren't going to church every week anymore, or you're not surrounded by those who believe in God either. If you are struggling with faith and need a reminder, listen to these songs and really listen to the lyrics.
1. "Oceans" by Hillsong UNITED
This is definitely a CLASSIC and every Christian pretty much knows this song. "Oceans" is about the verse Matthew 14: 22-23 in which Jesus calls upon Peter to take a step of faith onto the water. The verses are "Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone."
The lyrics in the song, "And there I find you in the mystery, In oceans deep my faith will stand," mean that when we seek after Him, we can find His purpose for us. He is found when we go deeper in worship and spend time with Him. Overall, this song is about giving your all to Him and letting Him lead you to where your trust is without borders because that can be a great place to be.
2. "Like You Promised" by Amber Brooks (Como Dijiste)
This is my FAVORITE worship song. It has the intensity of the drums and piano, along with the original voice of Christine D'Clario. If you understand Spanish or simply just want to listen how powerful the original version is, you can listen here. Now, this version is just as good. This song is about wanting God to come and pour out his spirit onto you so that you can feel it. It's about wanting to feel his presence.
The bridge of this song says "You love like a father, You love like a brother, You love like a lion, Fierce like no other, You violently chase me down to embrace me, Engulf me in who You are," which shows how God loves us no matter what and that he cares just like a father or a brother does. It also shows how he is as fierce as a lion and can protect us in that way. Overall, this song is a very powerful one that you should most definitely listen to.
3. "Way Maker" by Sinach
This is a PERFECT praise song. The song is about worshipping God and pretty much thanking him for everything he has done. If you understand Spanish, you can find that version here. The lyrics say "Waymaker, Miracle worker, Promise keeper, Light in the darkness, My God, That is who You are," which means that God works and makes miracles, keeps his promises, and is the light when everything goes dark. This song pretty much reminds you that God touches every life and meets every need, because he is a waymaker.
4. "What A Beautiful Name" by Hillsong Worship
This song is definitely one of the BEST worship songs out there. The song is about how beautiful, wonderful, and powerful the name of Jesus is. Each chorus changes using those three words that show how strong and incomparable both His name and He is. My favorite line from the song is "My sin was great, Your love was greater," which shows that no matter what happens or if you're going through trials and tribulations, His love will always be greater and triumph.
The lyrics also say "You have no rival, You have no equal, Now and forever, Our God reigns," which shows that He has no rival or equal because nobody can compare to him, and he is truly the name that is above all other names. This song even won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Music Song/Performance on January 28, 2018.
5. "Forever" by Kari Jobe
Personally, this was one of the FIRST worship songs I ever heard. This song is about the death of Jesus and the fact that he died on the cross for us, his children. The song speaks about Him still being alive and living on forever since he was resurrected.
The lyrics say "Forever, He is glorified, Forever, He is lifted high, Forever, He is risen, He is alive," which means that forever and ever He will be glorified, lifted high, and risen because of how He is like no other. The song also shows that death has no power or jurisdiction over God's love for us. Because of God's sacrifice death has no sting and doesn't override God's abounding love.
6. "No Longer Slaves" by Jonathan David & Melissa Helser
This song is a GREAT song for when you feel like something is trying to overcome you and take control over you. You have to remember that we truly aren't slaves anymore, but we are children of God. For a Spanish version tied with a worship service, listen here.
The chorus of this song says "I'm no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God," which is based on the scripture Romans 8:15, which says "For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, 'Abba! Father!'" The song is mainly about not going back to times of slavery when you maybe had times of sinful living, but instead breaking free and being strong enough to not go back.
7. "Tu Eres Rey" by Barak (English Cover by Shirley H.)
Personally, this is most definitely one of my FAVORITE songs to sing at church. From the harmonies in the song to the powerful lyrics it contains, this song is an exclamation to God telling him that he truly is the King. For a Spanish version of this song, where you can hear two beautiful voices blend together, listen here.
This song explains how God is like no other, how perfect he is, and how he has love that compares to nobody else's. The lyrics say "Forever and ever, Thy kingdom shall be established, Worthy of glory, Worthy of honor, Worthy of all worship," which shows that He is worthy of all of those things because of how unique and perfect he is.
8. "Hills and Valleys" by Tauren Wells
If you have ever listened to K-LOVE on the radio, then you MOST definitely have heard this song before. This song is about the hills and valleys of life that people go through. Remember that God is there for both of those times and controls them. The hills represent the highs in life, or when everything is going right, and the valleys represent the lows in life, or when you are going through struggles. He is saying how God is in total control over each situation and that God remains with you.
The lyrics say "Father, You give and take away, Every joy and every pain, Through it all, You will remain, Over it all," which means that no matter what God remains and stays with you making sure everything is okay. Overall, this song is about remembering that you are not alone no matter what, through the good and bad.
9. "Break Every Chain" by Tasha Cobbs
If you like GOSPEL music, this song is most definitely for you. Although the song is very repetitive, it has such a strong meaning. The song is about knowing that there is power in the name of Jesus and knowing that he can break any chain that comes your way. Any "chain" can refer to pretty much any sin, such as drugs, alcohol, or lying. It's about remembering that Jesus has the power to control what you're going through. The lyrics say "There is power in the name of Jesus, To break every chain, Break every chain, Break every chain," showing that Jesus brings people out of the darkness and brings them into the light.
10. "Even When It Hurts" by Hillsong UNITED
This song is for those who love EMOTIONAL songs. This praise song is about still finding the strength to praise God and worship Him when things may not be the best currently or when things hurt. The lyrics say, "Even when my strength is lost, I'll praise You, Even when I have no song, I'll praise You, Even when it's hard to find the words, Louder then I'll sing Your praise," which shows that even through good and bad, God is still faithful, which is why we should still praise him. Overall, remember that no matter what happens, you still should praise God in the end.
Remember that even if you aren't going to church weekly as you used to, you can definitely still praise and worship at your dorm or at your apartment. If you really want to do something, then you will find a way. "God is faithful yesterday, today, tomorrow, always."
