What’s the Purpose?

I’ve been listening to the radio recently, and I noticed that people have been writing music that reflects the challenges that we’re facing in life. It’s as if they’re processing what’s happening in their lives and they want to share that with everyone.

There’s a place for that. I have a favorite band that I’ve listened to for years. Some of their songs have resonated deeply with my soul, but not with my spirit.

If you’re writing worship music that’s coming from your experiences or challenges, or you’re choosing songs like that for your worship set, people may connect emotionally, but what about the spiritual connection that’s found in true worship?

We want to create a worship environment where we don’t settle for the emotional but we connect with the spiritual.

When we’re looking for worship songs that will give believers an opportunity to connect in their spirits with God, we want to look at the purpose of the song. Do the lyrics talk about God? Do they boast about specific things that He’s done? Do the lyrics focus on who He is and celebrate that?

The purpose of worship is to glorify God, focus on Him, and take our attention off of ourselves and put it on the One who is more than enough, whose worth and value surpass our own; whose care, compassion, and faithfulness are an unending part of who He is.

If the purpose of worship is to glorify and exalt God, then let’s choose to make it about Him, not about ourselves.

When you want to get past your experiences and what other people have said or done in the world around you, put your focus on the One who is more than. Reveal Him in your song lyrics, and revel in what He’s done. The song, Your Great Name, by Krissy Nordhoff and Michael Neale is an example of this. And yes, Natalie Grant recorded it in 2010, but the lyrics are relevant and focus on God. What a Beautiful Name by Ben Fielding and Brooke Ligertwood, and Way Maker by Sinach are great songs that have a primary focus on who God is and what He does. When I sing those songs, I’m reminded about the fact that He’s more than what’s around me.

What I’m trying to say is, if our focus is on what and who is eternal, the rest of life will be put into perspective. And a change of perspective is something that can take you from despair to remembering who you are in Christ as a believer.

Ask yourself, what’s the purpose of the song?