Words of Worship: Cleansing

cleansing (verb) - to clean, especially to rid of impurities by or as if by washing

Synonyms: clean, deterge, turn out

Antonyms: besmirch, dirty, foul, soil

Cleansing is a common theme in worship music due to the fact that followers of Christ have been washed clean of our sins by the blood spilt on the cross. This creates some truly powerful imagery, from crimson stains being washed white as snow to being baptized in a river to rain pouring down from Heaven. You know how good you feel after rinsing off the dirt and grime of a long day in a shower? Magnify that by infinity and that's what knowing you've been cleansed of your past by Jesus feels like.

Below is just a sampling of songs that talk about being cleansed, along with scripture references from the New Living Translation of the Holy Bible.

The Blood Medley: Victory in Jesus/Are You Washed in the Blood?/Nothing But the Blood of Jesus/Power in the Blood by Anthem Lights (written by E. Hoffman, E. Bartlett, R. Lowry)

Classic hymn mashups are very prominent in Anthem Lights' repertoire, and this one is no exception. Featured on their 2018 album Hymns, Vol. 2, each of the four hymns chosen declares the cleansing power of Jesus' blood and what it can do for your life if you accept Him into your heart.

O, victory in Jesus/My Savior forever/He sought me and bought me/With His redeeming blood/Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power/Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb/Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour/Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb/Are you washed in the blood/In the soul-cleansing blood of the lamb/Are your garments spotless, are they white as snow/Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb

Hebrews 9:14 Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.

Drenched in Love by Bethel Music ft. Daniel Bashta & Harvest (written by D. Bashta, M. Armstrong, J. Silverberg)

I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but I love contemporary worship songs that sample classic hymns - it's awesome to respect where our current style of music came from. Featured on their 2019 live album Victory, Bethel and Daniel Bashta reference Nothing but the Blood (one of my favorite hymns) throughout the chorus and Power in the Blood throughout the bridge, making an already powerful message even more so.

All souls atoned by the blood of the Lamb/I'm not a slave to what once held me damned/How beautiful, that cleansing flood/I am washed, I am washed, I am drenched in love/Oh, precious is the flow/That makes me white as snow/No other fount I know/I am washed, I am washed, I am drenched in love

I Peter 4:8 Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.

Open the Eyes of My Heart/Lord I Give You My Heart by Caleb and Kelsey (written by P. Baloche, R. Morgan)

I'd say about 90% of the time, Caleb and Kelsey Grimm knock it out of the park with their worship mashups in finding songs that compliment each other perfectly, and this particular track featurred on their 2018 album Timeless Worship is one of those times. I grew up singing both of these songs in the late '90s and early '00s when they were incredibly popular, and hearing them put together this way just adds another layer to the experience. If you've ever experienced Him pouring out His love on you, I know you can relate.

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord/Open the eyes of my heart/I want to see You/I want to see You/This is my desire, to honor You/Lord, with all my heart, I worship You/All I have within me, I give You praise/All that I adore is in You/To see You high and lifted up/Shining in the light of Your glory/Pour out Your power and love/As we sing holy, holy, holy

Ephesians 1:18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called - his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

Gone by Elevation Worship (written by D. Mutendji, S. Furtick)

Just about everything Elevation puts out is solid gold, and their 2019 EP At Midnight is no exception. This is one of those songs that makes you feel like you can overcome anything while you're listening to it. Because He washed us clean, our dirty past is gone and we can move forward in hope and praise.

Praise is a weapon that will overcome/Oh, I'm gonna shout like the battle's won/Fall back, devil, 'cause your time is up/Oh, I'm gonna live like the stone is gone/Gone, now my sin is dead and gone/And I sing hallelujah/Done, done, He is risen, it is done/And I sing hallelujah

I John 1:9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

Beautiful Things by Gungor (written by L. Gungor, M. Gungor)

The title track from Gungor's 2009 album Beautiful Things is so simple and beautiful but so powerful at the same time. It goes to show that you don't necessarily need a lot of words to tell Him how much you love Him and how thankful You are for His mercy and grace. The overall message of the song is abundantly clear: He is making all things new.

All this pain, I wonder if I'll ever find my way/I wonder if my life could really change at all/All this earth, could all that is lost ever be found/Could a garden come up from this ground at all/You make beautiful things/You make beautiful things out of the dust/You make beautiful things/You make beautiful things out of us

Luke 6:45 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you sow flows from what is in your heart.

Desert Song by Hillsong Live (written by B. Ligertwood)

This song may be over a decade old now, but it's still one of my all time favorites. Featured on Hillsong's 2008 live album This Is Our God, this song makes me want to get out of my seat and dance as I worship both because of the killer beat and the message behind the song - He has control, He's won my battles for me, and He has redeemed me.

And this is my prayer in the battle/When triumph is still on its way/I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ/So firm on His promise, I'll stand/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

I Peter 1:7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold - though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

Rain by Leeland ft. Noel Robinson (written by N. Robinson, D. Akodu)

Rain is an international symbol of cleansing both in sacred and secular music and has been for basically ever. Featured on Leeland's 2019 live album Better Word, this song grabbed my attention the first time I heard it with the pure, open vocals and the lyrics. It's a prayer for God to rain down His love and mercy on us to wash us clean of our sin and shame.

I hear the sound, I hear the sound/I hear the sound of revival rain/I hear the sound, I hear the sound/I hear the sound of revival rain/Open up the heavens/Pouring out a blessing/Lord, we need refreshing/'Til it overflows

Psalm 51:2 Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.

Thanks for reading this week and every week - hopefully you found some great new music to listen and worship to. See ya'll next week!