Words of Worship: Blessing

blessing – noun the act or words of one that blesses; a thing conducive to happiness or welfare; grace said at a meal Synonyms: benediction, benefit, boon, felicity, godsend, good, manna, windfall Antonyms: affliction, bane, curse, evil, plague, scourge

It can be very easy to mistake blessings for good luck, as though they’re random happenstance or that you or the universe had something to do with it. Certainly someone can give their blessing to something, or like in the Merriam-Webster definition someone can pray over a meal, but blessings really and truly come from the Lord – and that is something to sing about.

I contributed a few verses this past week regarding the topic of blessings to a worship event at my home church, which will be some of the verses listed below. Meditating on this theme for a few weeks while I’ve been researching for this post has been so uplifting and a beautiful reminder of God’s faithfulness to us, and hopefully you are able to feel some of the same as well.

Blessed Be Your Name/Everlasting God by Caleb and Kelsey (written by M. Redman, B. Redman, B. Brown, K. Riley) This mashup from Caleb & Kelsey Grimm’s 2018 album Timeless Worship fits together so well. Both of these classic worship songs are ones that I grew up singing in church, and listening to them now as an adult adds another layer to the experience. This song serves as a reminder that when (not if) the dark times come around, we should still give thanks and praise to God for all He has done and will continue to do. Blessed be Your name in the land that is plentiful/Where streams of abundance flow, blessed be Your name/Blessed be Your name when I’m found in the desert place/Though I walk through the wilderness, blessed be Your name/Our God, You reign forever/Our hope, our strong deliverer/Blessed be the name of the Lord/Blessed be Your name/Blessed be the name of the Lord/Blessed be Your glorious name Psalm 23:4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

Break Every Chain/Revelation Song by Caleb and Kelsey (written by W. Reagan, J. Riddle) With their second entry on this week’s list, The Grimm’s do a really beautiful mash up of two slightly more contemporary songs (I mean, as compared to the last two) on their 2018 album Worship. Revelation Song is one of my favorite worship songs of all time, and mixed with the liberating lyrics of Break Every Chain becomes an even more powerful reminder that God can do anything, and one day all creation will sing praises for the blessings He has bestowed. There is power in the name of Jesus/There is power in the name of Jesus/There is power in the name of Jesus/To break every chain, break every chain, break every chain/To break every chain, break every chain, break every chain/Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty/Who was and is and is to come/Oh, with all creation, I sing praise to the King of kings/You are my everything, and I will adore You Isaiah 6:3 They were calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!”

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing by Chris Rice (written by J. Wyeth, R. Robinson) This is our first three-timer on this blog, but who cares? A classic hymn with a classic message, it’s hard to talk about the theme of God’s blessings without at least thinking of this song – I mean, blessing is right there in the title! Oh, that day when freed from sinning/I shall see Thy lovely face/Clothed it then in blood washed linen/How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace/Come my Lord, no longer tarry/Take my ransom soul away/Send Thine angels now to carry/Me to realms of endless day Psalm 139:2 You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.

Desert Song by Hillsong Live (written by L. Gerrard, B. Perry) In all genres of music, I love songs that have almost a primal or tribal beat to them because they’re easy to dance to. This song is no exception – the drums and the guitar and the piano all doing their things here put my heart in such a beautiful state of worship that I can’t help but smile, whether I’m singing it on stage, in my car, or at home. The different prayers for different circumstances that make up the verses of this song are such sweet reminders that God is with us in every season and will bless us where we are. This is my prayer in the desert/When all that’s within me feels dry/This is my prayer in my hunger and need/My God is the God who provides/And this is my prayer in the fire/In weakness or trial or pain/There is a faith proved of more worth than gold/So refine me, Lord, through the flame/And I will bring praise, I will bring praise/No weapon formed against me shall remain/I will rejoice, I will declare/God is my victory and He is here Psalm 60:12 With God’s help we will do mighty things, for he will trample down our foes.

10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) by Matt Redman (written by J. Myrin, M. Redman) Another “freebie” with the word bless right in the title, this song still gets me every time I hear it even though it’s been out and about for quite a long while now. I listened to this song a lot after my grandmother passed away last April, and ended up submitting it to be played during her funeral service. We are called to worship and praise the Lord to our very last breath on this earth, and He blesses us in ways that we may not even realize at the time but will all become clear at the end of the road. The sun comes up, it’s a new day dawning/It’s time to sing Your song again/Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me/Let me be singing when the evening comes/Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul/Worship His holy name/Sing like never before, O my soul/I’ll worship Your holy name Psalm 103:1-5 Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

Doxology by Passion ft. David Crowder Band (written by T. Ken) Another classic hymn, David Crowder just knocks this cover out of the park. It’s so simple yet so powerful, and his added chorus of Amen throughout the song just adds to the worship experience. God truly is the one from whom all blessings flow, and everyone from the rocks of the earth to the angels in Heaven will one day sing his praise all together. Praise God from whom all blessings flow/Praise Him, all creatures here below/Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts/Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost/Amen, amen/Amen, amen Romans 11:36 For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen

Psalm 16 (Fullness of Joy) by Shane & Shane (written by S. Barnard, J. Rigney) Fellow Texans Shane & Shane have been a favorite group of mine since I first saw them at a DiscipleNow concert when I was in the 7th grade. Their Psalms albums have become staples for listening on my phone, and this interpretation of Psalm 16 is really, really something special to listen to. God’s presence provides joy, and His right hand provides blessings and treasures to His children forever. Preserve me, O God/For I find rest in You alone/I say to the Lord/You are the Lord, I have no good apart from You/All sons and daughters/Brothers, sisters, my delight/Let’s sing together/No other gods shall satisfy, God, You satisfy/In Your presence, there is fullness/Of joy, of joy Psalm 16:5 Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine.

I hope that in some way, this blog post blesses you as you go about your week and gives you some good music to meditate, pray, and worship to. See ya’ll next Monday!