Worship Songs - Something Special

CBN.com I believe that music was ultimately created to give glory to God, and that in God’s eyes, worship songs are among the most precious, beautiful and valuable of art forms.

Worship songs are also special because they are the music of the people—the music of the average person. There is almost nothing more meaningful or fulfilling to me than knowing that I am helping someone express passionate worship to his or her Creator through my songs. For thousands of years the Lord has used the gift of music to touch people in a way that few other mediums of communication can.

You may have already realized that we’re in the midst of a worship awakening. God is bestowing unusual favor on the gift of songwriting, and many of these songs are being written not only by seasoned professionals, but also by people who are simply worshipers expressing an inspirational thought or idea.

I believe that many people have been given this special gift and may not even be aware of it. I also believe that we have just begun to scratch the surface of the unique and various ways that worship songs can sound and how they will affect both those who are in the Church and those who are outside of the Church community. There will never be too many worship songs, for we will never be able to plumb the depth or span the breadth of how awesome God is and how much we owe Him! Worship songs are the songs that move God’s heart.

Creating Worship Songs

Whenever I have been asked to speak or teach at songwriting classes and workshops, I meet people who want to know how to be creative. Although I’m not at all sure that creativity can be taught, I hope that my words will inspire your creativity. I want to share with you the process I go through when I’m writing a worship song. I can tell you about some of the things that inspire me and some of the things that I listen for. I hope that you will take that information and tap into your own creativity to find a process—a creative style—that works for you. It will be something that is entirely unique to you.

Although there are books on songwriting that contain a by-the-book list of rules (some of which are quite helpful), many of these books encourage the songwriter to create by using an established formula. While rules for the art of songwriting are a great place to start and a fine way to learn, you shouldn’t be afraid to break them. If you use Songs from Heaven in any way as you begin to explore the worship songs within you, please use what I say only as a set of guidelines—a jumping-off point for your own brand of creativity.

A New Song for Your Audience of One

The Bible verse at the beginning of this book is what I call my life verse. “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and will put their trust in the Lord” (

). Here’s my paraphrase: “Through letting people watch me or hear me live out my authentic, personal, spontaneous relationship with God, many of them will hunger for the same and put their trust in Him.”

Singing a new song to the Lord is really nothing more then praying. During a worship concert, a woman shouted after the second song, “You forgot to pray!” and I responded, “Ma’am, that’s what we’ve been doing.” The good news is that everyone can pray, which means that everyone can sing a new song to the Lord. For some of you, the melody may be only two or three notes, but if that melody is sung from your heart, it is a beautiful sound to your heavenly father.

This book exists mostly to inspire songwriting, but my hope is that in its words you will find the challenge to keep your relationship with God fresh and creative. Our God is not just a higher power. He is a relational “God with us” kind of God, and He is blessed when His children say they love Him in new and heartfelt ways.

There have been many times, especially during my early songwriting years, when I would write and perform a song alone in my room for the sole purpose of blessing my audience of One. During those times, I would say, “God, this one is just for You!” Your greatest success, my brother or sister, will always be to touch the heart of God. I encourage you to not only say your prayers but to sing your prayers. This will bless your Father God, the author of all creativity, and deepen your relationship with Him. And just maybe He will take your little song to the world so that many will see and reverence Him and put their trust in Him!