Words of Worship: Freedom

freedom (noun) - the quality or state of being free, such as the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action; liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another; the quality or state of being exempt or released usually from something onerous

Synonyms: autonomy, independence, liberty, self-determination

Antonyms: dependence, heteronomy, subjection, unfreedom

Freedom is such a joyful aspect of our relationship with Jesus that it's naturally woven into our praise and worship. Stepping into a walk with Christ frees us of our sins, our fears, our shame, and the parts of our past we'd rather forget. Surrendering our lives to God isn't restrictive at all: it's completely and utterly liberating. Knowing our lives are in His hands, not our own, should be an enormous relief that we don't have to do our lives on our own. The freedom God provides goes hand and hand with peace and joy. All we need is to put our faith in Him and He will take care of the rest.

This post has seven songs about the freedom of salvation along with Scripture references that I was led to with each entry. All Scripture passages are from the New Living Translation of the Holy Bible.

Living Hope by Bethel Music, Brian Johnson & Jenn Johnson (written by B. Johnson, P. Wickham)

Featured on Bethel's 2019 live album Victory, this is a powerful song that tells the story of salvation from both the before and after points of view. Worship leaders Brian & Jenn Johnson sing of the freedom Jesus provides when we place all of our hope in Him and accept the gift of eternal life. Because He was freed from death, so are we.

How great the chasm that lay between us/How high the mountain I could not climb/In desperation, I turned to heaven/And spoke Your name into the night/Then through the darkness, Your loving kindness/Tore through the shadows of my soul/The work is finished, the end is written/Jesus Christ, my living hope/Who could imagine so great a mercy/What heart could fathom such boundless grace/The God of ages stepped down from glory/To wear my sin and bear my shame/The cross has spoken, I am forgiven/The King of kings calls me His own/Beautiful Savior, I'm Yours forever/Jesus Christ, my living hope/Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free/Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me/You have broken every chain, there's salvation in Your name/Jesus Christ, my living hope

Acts 2:24 But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.

Stand in Your Love by Bethel Music & Josh Baldwin (written by E. Hulse, J. Baldwin, M. Harris, R. Springer)

Also featured on Bethel's 2019 live album Victory, this song is a personal favorite of mine. With vocals from worship leader Josh Baldwin, this anthem is a declaration that we don't need to be afraid to stand in our freedom we've received from Christ through His love for us. His hand of protection is over us at all times, no matter how dark or frightening the situation may seem from our point of view.

When darkness tries to roll over my bones/When sorrow comes to steal the joy I own/When brokenness and pain is all I know/I won't be shaken, no, I won't be shaken/‘Cause my fear doesn't stand a chance when I stand in Your love/My fear doesn't stand a chance when I stand in Your love/My fear doesn't stand a chance when I stand in Your love

Psalm 91:2-5 This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day.

Honey in the Rock by Brooke Ligertwood & Brandon Lake (written by B. Ligertwood, B. Lake, M. Wong)

Featured on Brooke Ligertwood's 2022 live album SEVEN, this song takes us all the way back to the miracles of the Old Testament when God freed the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt. When we accept our freedom in Christ, we don't have to worry about anything at all, which as we all know is much easier said than done. All we have to do is trust in Him and He will feed us, clothe us, and protect us from our enemies.

There's honey in the rock, water in the stone/Manna on the ground, no matter where I go/I don't need to worry now that I know/Everything I need You've got/There's honey in the rock/Praying for a miracle, thirsty for the living well/Only You can satisfy/Sweetness at the mercy seat, now I've tasted, it's not hard to see/Only You can satisfy

Psalm 107:9 For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

Where Revival Lives by Citipointe Live ft. Chardon Lewis (written by C. Lewis, C. Moore)

Featured on Citipointe's 2018 live album Mover of Mountains, this is a joyful, upbeat worship song reminding us how refreshing God's freedom is. With vocals from worship leader Chardon Lewis, you can feel how liberating living a life with Christ can be in every beat of this song.

I can feel it coming, can you hear it now/Listen to the heartbeat where revival's found/You are the wellspring, the life in my bloodstream/You are my hope, my heart and home/You are the one thing, my One and only/I live for You and You alone/This is a revival here and now, lifting up Your name and nothing else/It's You, it's You/This is a revival here and now, lifting up Your praise, we're crying out/To You, to You

Isaiah 38:16 Lord, your discipline is good, for it leads to life and health. You restore my health and allow me to live!

Nothing Else by Cody Carnes (written by C. Carnes, H. Bentley, J. Early)

Released as a single in 2019, this beautiful, simple song serves as a reminder that Jesus is more than enough after we've had a hard time of it trying to do everything on our own. As humans, it's very easy to forget that He is always enough to satisfy us, but He's more than patient and gracious enough to forgive us when we remember and are able to sit back and relax in His freedom.

I'm caught up in Your presence, I just want to sit here at Your feet/I’m caught up in this holy moment, I never wanna leave/Oh, I'm not here for blessings, Jesus, You don't owe me anything/More than anything that You can do, I just want You/I’m sorry when I've just gone through the motions, I’m sorry when I just sang another song/Take me back to where we started, I open up my heart to You/I’m sorry when I've come with my agenda, I’m sorry when I forgot that You're enough/Take me back to where we started, I open up my heart to You

Matthew 6:30-33 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? So don’t worry about these things, saying, “What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?” These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your Heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Freedom by Hillsong Worship & Reuben Morgan (written by J. Grimmett, R. Morgan)

Featured on Hillsong's 2021 live album These Same Skies, our theme of freedom covers this some from the title all the away down. With vocals from worship leader Reuben Morgan, I really love the line that says our lives are a rescue story because of everything Jesus has done for us.

My life is a prodigal story/Saved out of the enemy’s plans for me/I’m home in the house of God/My life is a rescue story/I have freedom, I have freedom/Thank You, Jesus, I am free/No more chains on me, now in Christ I live/Thank You, Jesus, I am free

Galatians 5:1 So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.

Wordless by Lauren Daigle (written by L. Daigle, C. Bentley, M. Fieldes)

Featured as a bonus track on Daigle's 2015 album How Can It Be, this is another calming, reassuring song that we are protected by God's freedom in our salvation. Wrapped up in His love, we have no cause for fear. He won't harm us or overwhelm us like the things of this world do, but will provide us with a peace that transcends all understanding.

There isn't any fear here, there isn't any fear in love/When You come, when You come/There isn't any hurt here that You don't overwhelm/When You come, when You come/I am speechless, but I can't keep quiet/And I am wordless, but I can't stay silent

Psalm 51:7 Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

I hope these songs bring joy and peace to your heart as you listen to them over the next few days. Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!