Gospel Songs that Nourish the Soul

Gospel Music is beyond the lyrical expression of the human mind; it is a powerful tool of conveying ideas, thoughts, doctrines, and ideologies which directly affect the soul. It is literally a craft of immeasurable capacity mastered by talented men across all ages to impress their convictions on their generations. However, testimonies in the Bible and in the history of the Church reveal that through music, souls have been saved, wounded hearts are healed, broken homes are restored, the lost are saved and the straying saints are revived. It is simply the language of the soul and a powerful weapon of influence that conditions both the physical and spiritual state of every child of God. The spirit man is a living being and he is highly responsive to music.

We read in Acts 16: 25-34 how Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God in the middle of the night and other prisoners were listening to them. This simple act brought down the power of God so much that the foundations of the prison were shaken, the prison doors flew open, everyone’s chains came loose and the jailers were saved. Such is the power of spiritual Gospel music songs. No wonder Apostle Paul admonishes the Ephesus Christians thus “Do not to get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19). 

Not all songs in this generation are healthy for our consumption. Some songs are sponsored by the culture of lawlessness and can be very damaging to the soul as they dignify immorality and promote selfishness and pride. The fame of the artist is not what validates the importance of the song; if a song does not bring you nearer to God or encourage you to be positive and godly in character, it simply has no place on your playlist as a child of God. This is because the kinds of songs you listen to will determine the quality of life you live. As a child of God, it is expedient to understand that music has a place in your Christian growth and you must be able to harness it for your maximum good. Psalms 95: 2 makes it clear that through spiritual songs, we can access the very presence of God and unlock His blessings over our lives.

Moreover, one of the ways through which a believer can stay edified and lifted in the spirit is through spiritual songs. When you study the church hymns, for instance, you will easily discover how rich the contents are in the revelation of God’s nature and power. They are songs borne out of divine encounters, released to the Body of Christ to inspire us into a deeper fellowship with our Savior and help us to align our lives better with the will and glory of God. Colossians 3:16-17 puts it this way: “Let the word of Christ dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

Beloved, this is a wakeup call to you as a citizen of God’s kingdom. Our minds are not meant to be manipulated by the ungodliness of this age through unhealthy songs. We must be deliberate in our choice and intentional with our musical collections. It is our sincere prayer that the good Lord will help you to make this decision today in Jesus’ name. Amen.