Songs for the soul and praise of our King

Singing opens a window to my soul. It allows me to express emotion - my innermost being - through beautifully written words set to the melody of music. I love worship music, and I’ve often find myself lost in praise, and wrapped up in the presence of God as I travel to meet you in remote, rural places.

Yet in the missional movement, I’ve noticed we can have an uneasy relationship with worship. We love songs that speak truth and love into our communities, but we sometimes wrestle with the formality of sung worship in traditional church settings. We long to express ourselves, but we also recognise that many on the fringes of church - or those curious about God - can find sung worship unfamiliar or uncomfortable. They may prefer other creative ways to express praise. At times, we may grumble about large churches that resemble theatre productions, but deep down, many of us also crave that immersive experience - being lost in awe and wonder with others. It’s a complex relationship with worship music that I’ve seen play out in small missional communities. But I’ve also seen the beauty that unfolds when people embrace their gifting, share music in small groups, and invite others to worship alongside them. It’s a privilege to witness and be part of.

Wherever you stand with worship music, I want to invite you into two songs that have grounded me this year. The first is  “Gratitude” by Brandon Lake, written in 2020.

So I throw up my hands

And praise You again and again’

Cause all that I have is a hallelujah, hallelujah

And I know it's not much

But I’ve nothing else fit for a King

Except for a heart singing hallelujah, hallelujah

So come on, my soul

Oh, don’t you get shy on me

Lift up your song

’Cause you’ve got a lion inside of those lungs

Get up and praise the Lord

This song lifts the soul when there’s nothing left - it empowers us to be bold in our praise. The imagery of the roaring lion stirs something deep, and invites us to unleash our praise. I often wonder if its timing, written during the pandemic, adds to its emotional weight. Then the line, “I’ve got nothing else fit for a King…” never fails to bring me to my knees – we’re worshipping the King of earth and heaven and this King accepts our hallelujah’s.

But this song isn’t just for those hard moments. It’s also for those quieter, humbler times when we simply want to focus on God and acknowledge God’s greatness with our whole heart. So, if you’re looking to draw close to Jesus this summer - or if you need to roar your praise out loud - have a listen and join in.

The second song I’d love to share is “Praise” by Elevation Worship, featuring (you guessed it) Brandon Lake, along with Chris Brown and Chandler Moore. I didn’t even realise it was the same artist until I looked it up for this reflection!

We were putting together a set list for a small in-house worship night when our teenagers chimed in: “All your songs are moody - can we have some fun ones, please?” Out came this track! There’s nothing quite like teenagers calling you to joy. Just getting our little group of worshippers to echo each line at the start is a celebration in itself:

Let everything – “Let everything”

That has breath – “That has breath”

Praise the Lord – “Praise the Lord”

It’s the rhythm and the declarative energy that gets everyone moving. If you need to shift your feet, raise your hands, or wiggle your body in worship this summer, pop this song on. Joy is such a gift. I can sometimes struggle with the battle imagery in the song, simply because of the state our world is in, but I’ve also experienced where through the Holy Spirit sung worship and prayer bring God’s victory, so I sing with that in mind.

So why share these two songs with you this week? Because our reflections stop over the Summer, and I wanted my last one this July to encourage us to lift our praise to Jesus. Many of us will be heading to Christian camps, youth gatherings, or simply spending long hours in cars, on trains, or in the quiet of summer days. Whether you're celebrating with large crowds or finding stillness in solitude, I encourage you to carve out time to praise God.

Let worship open your heart again. Let music draw you into the presence of the Spirit - whether in joy, in stillness, or in raw honesty. Lift your voice. Move your body. Sing out your hallelujahs, not because you have it all together, but because Jesus is always worthy.

This summer, let praise lead you home to God.

Jo Allen

Joint CEO, Rural Ministries