I grew up with the love of singing and dancing, as well as the love for playing instruments. From like the first or second grade, I always “twinkled the ivories,” not so musically, as I was only seven or eight. I begged my mother for lessons and finally in the third grade, I would start the journey that ended up being nine years of piano lessons.
I loved playing the piano, I really did, but I always liked playing songs that I could sing along to. My dad had a guitar that I would always play, and he taught me a few chords just for fun. Later, I would be given that guitar for a Christmas present and teach myself to play.
In the eighth grade, I began leading worship for my youth group. It was just me, someone playing the guitar, a keyboardist, and the occasional box drum. Little did I know that a few years later, it would be me up there playing the guitar as well as singing.
Leading worship and the worship part of any service has always been a time where I feel God’s presence. Not to down any pastor who has ever given a message, I get so much out of those as well, but I have just always had a heart for worship.
Songs have gotten me through so much in my life and so here are my top 10 go-to worship songs not in any particular order though:
Good Good Father by Chris Tomlin
First worship song I ever memorized within a week, allowing me to be able to close my eyes during worship instead of looking at a music sheet. I was fully worshipping God, even though I'm still worshipping Him while looking at chords, I truly felt all in.
The Lion and the Lamb by Bethel Music
This song was played at my baptism and just spoke such an awesome reminder that God is so much greater than us, and we bow to Him, the Almighty ruler and not to the world.
Broken Vessels by Hillsong United
This song uses lyrics from the simple hymn “Amazing Grace,” and sings by His sweet grace we are saved, even when we are broken in a million pieces.
Come Alive Lauren Daigle
This is one of my favorites to play on the piano but it is also from one of my favorite new Christian artists who inspires me with my own song writing. It’s a song about how He is the ultimate giver of life, we are not breathing on our own, He first breathed into us and we are live because of Him.
O Come to the Altar by Elevation Worship
This is a song about Salvation. God’s arms are open wide to us even when we think we don’t deserve it, even when we mess up, even when we sin again and again – we are forgiven.
To Live is Christ by Sidewalk Prophets
I auditioned for praise band with this song on my guitar a while back for Camp WinShape (I will find out news in April, God, if this is your will . . .) but this song also is a testament to men and women talking the talk AND walking the walk.
How Can It Be by Lauren Daigle
So many songs that I go to speak of forgiveness, Romans 8 resonates with them, which is my favorite chapter of scripture.
Say the Word by Hillsong United
I was introduced to this song this year at my home away from home church in Florence, AL. The Well Church was only the second church I visited and I knew this was where I wanted to plug in for the next four years. Not only did McKenzie Lockhart blow this song out of the water, the song’s beautiful lyrics spoke to me.
No Longer Slaves by Bethel Music
What an awesome reminder that we are not bound to our sin or shame or fear, but have eternal glory in the kingdom of God and we are His children.
Out of Hiding by Steffany Gretzinger
This was my senior solo song that I chose to play on the piano. The song just really sang the words I had been needing to hear and say for a while at that point in my life.
