grace (noun) - unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification; a virtue coming from God
Synonyms: benevolence, courtesy, favor
Antonyms: hindrance, impediment, obstacle
Grace is one of the absolute linchpins of the Christian faith. Without God's grace, we would very literally be doomed to an eternity separated from Him in hell. It's a gift we could work our entire lives to earn but never, ever come close to achieving on our own, but He gives it to His children freely and willingly out of His vast love for us. We sing of God's grace in musical worship because of how vital it is to us and how grateful we are for it. Grace is so beautiful and wonderful, and greater and more valuable than any other gift we could ever receive.
This post includes seven songs about grace along with Scripture references that inspired them and that I was led to with each entry. All Scripture passages are from the New Living Translation of the Holy Bible.
All Hail King Jesus by Bethel Music & Bethany Wohrle (written by J. Riddle, S. Gretzinger, R. Jackson, P. Mattis)
Featured on Bethel's 2021 live album Homecoming with vocals from worship leader Bethany Wohrle, this is a powerful anthem that walks us through Christ's death and resurrection on the first Easter weekend. The thought that He gave up his life so that we could be with Him in Heaven forever is enough to blow anyone's mind, so great is the magnitude of His love. He took our place on a cross that day to save us in ways we can scarcely imagine.
There was a moment when the lights went out/When death had claimed its victory/The King of Love had given up His life/The darkest day in history/There on a cross they made for sinners/For every curse, His blood atoned/One final breath and it was finished/But not the end we could have known/For the earth began to shake/And the veil was torn/What sacrifice was made/As the heavens roared/All hail King Jesus/All hail the Lord of Heaven and earth/All hail King Jesus/All hail the Savior of the world
Revelation 7:9-12 After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a great roar, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings. And they fell before the throne with their faces to the ground and worshiped God. They sang, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
Greater Still by Brandon Lake & Essential Worship (written by B. Lake, H. Bentley, J. Ingram)
Featured on Lake & Essential Worship's 2022 collaborative EP Song Sessions, this introspective song is a delicate yet powerful showcase of how simultaneously strong and gentle the Lord is in His love for His children. There's nothing we can do that will cause Him to turn His back on us (except blasphemy), and while that depth of love can be really difficult to fathom for us as humans it is completely normal and characteristic of God. His grace is greater than any mistake we could ever make.
You met me at my lowest moment/You saw me at my very worst/When I expected disappointment/Love was all I heard/My sin was deep, Your grace was deeper/My shame was wide, Your arms were wider/And my guilt was great, Your love was greater still
Psalm 46:1-7 God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! A river brings joy to the city of our God, the sacred home of the Most High. God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed. From the very break of day, God will protect it. The nations are in chaos, and their kingdoms crumble! God’s voice thunders, and the earth melts! The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.
King Jesus by Brooke Ligertwood (written by B. Ligertwood)
Featured on Ligertwood's 2022 live album SEVEN, this is a beautiful song of praise and adoration for our gracious God. The King of Heaven sacrificed His life for us and still loves us so tenderly and forgives us our transgressions when we bring them before Him. What a beautiful gift given in a beautiful relationship.
It is right to praise You/To bring the sacrifice You deserve/For those forgiven much/Dare not forget Your touch/Cannot withhold Your praise/For there is no other/Seated at the Father's right hand/And Yours scarred with the proof of what You chose to lose/So grace was mine to gain/King Jesus/King Jesus/King Jesus
Isaiah 9:6-7 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!
Show Me Your Heart by Hillsong UNITED & TAYA (written by J. Houston)
Featured on UNITED's 2022 album Are We There Yet? with vocals from worship leader Taya Gaukrodger, this song has a beautiful, flowing melody underneath lyrics of the Lord's protection and mercy. The guitar line reminds me of North Point's Death Was Arrested at parts, which definitely adds to my liking this song, and as usual Taya provides really stunning vocals that add another layer of beauty. Our Father will always be there to protect His children, and loves us so much that He took on all of our worries and fears and doubts Himself.
Wide awake in the dead of night/While the world comes apart/You keep watch when my vision is blurry/And my thoughts run afar/You step in when the wolves come prowling/And the thieves come to steal/‘Cause You don't sleep when my world spins in darkness/And I can't tell what's real/Show me Your heart 'cause I need a Father/Show me Your love 'cause I need something that won't break/Show me Your scars 'cause I need a Savior/Show me Your heart 'cause I just need a place I can run and fall into the arms of my Father/I just need to know there's someone so beautiful to me
Hebrews 1:3 The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.
Lord Send Revival by Hillsong Young & Free (written by M. Crocker, A. King, B. Tan)
Featured on Hillsong Y&F's 2020 live album All Of My Best Friends, this beautiful song is a declaration of the Lord's peace and grace washing over us. God covers His children in His love and mercy so that we feel Him with us always, whether we're in a valley of difficulties or atop a mountain of blessings. How deep, wide, high, and great is His love for us.
Peace like a river/Wash over me/Immerse me in water/As deep as the sea/Hide me in love/Your healing embrace/Peace like a river/Wash over me/As I worship Your majesty/I worship Your holy Name/Jesus my everything/All that I am is Yours
Isaiah 45:8 Open up, O heavens, and pour out your righteousness. Let the earth open wide so salvation and righteousness can sprout up together. I, the Lord, created them.
Sinking Deep by Hillsong Young & Free (written by A. King, J. Davies)
Featured on Hillsong Y&F's 2015 EP This Is Living, I love the lyric that describes God's grace as "relentless." Similar to the themes in Cory Asbury's Reckless Love, the Lord never stops pursuing His children. He cares for us so deeply that it doesn't matter how far away from His path we stray, if we come back and ask Him His forgiveness He welcomes us with open arms and a feast fit for royalty.
Standing here in Your presence/In a grace so relentless/I am won by perfect love/Wrapped within the arms of heaven/In a peace that lasts forever/Sinking deep in mercy's sea/I’m wide awake, drawing close, stirred by grace/And all my heart is Yours/All fear removed, I breathe You in, I lean into Your love/Oh, Your love
Luke 15:4-7 If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, “Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.” In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!
House Of The Lord by Phil Wickham (written by J. Smith, P. Wickham)
Featured on Wickham's 2021 album Hymn Of Heaven, this upbeat song is a declaratory anthem of praise for the Lord's greatness. The lyrics discuss His incredible power, His eternal victory, and our overwhelming joy we feel in His presence. There's no doubt that God is moving, and His grace can be seen all over our lives.
We worship the God who was, we worship the God who is/We worship the God who evermore will be/He opened the prison doors, He parted the raging sea/My God, He holds the victory/There's joy in the house of the Lord, there's joy in the house of the Lord today/And we won't be quiet, we shout out Your praise/There's joy in the house of the Lord, our God is surely in this place/And we won't be quiet, we shout out Your praise/We shout out Your praise
II Chronicles 20:6 He prayed, “O Lord, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you!”
I hope these songs bless you as much as they have blessed me while working on this post. Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!
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