Are there short cuts into the presence of God? Into the most holy place, between the wings of the cherubim?
Yeah, I think God might provide them, because he is a searching, seeking God, looking for the lost coin, the lost sheep, the lost sinner.
For me, one of the short cuts is worship music.
Not instead of more muscular devotions, like prayer or Bible study. I haven’t yet considered listening to music instead of a set time of prayer, but as an addition to it.
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My time of listening to music is while doing housework. Or brushing my teeth, because I often start my day spiritually cold and emotionless. Or I take a break when I feel disgruntled, or spiritually bored, and distracted; I tidy my room, while listening to music
The music profoundly affects my brain, liberating oxytocin and endorphins (and occasionally, an adrenalin rush), ushering me into the presence of God, changing my emotions, making me feel devotion.
Saint Augustine wrote, “He who sings prays two-fold.”
Saint Augustine wrote, “He who sings prays two-fold.”
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Is there any value to emotions initially sluggish, now stirred into devotion by soulful worship music?
As with anything else in the spiritual realm, it depends on the fruit. Mere feelings that bear no fruit in action, or changed thinking or changed emotions are the seed which falls by the wayside. (One could read the Parable of the Sower as saying that the word of God bears no apparent fruit 75% of the times that it falls on our souls!)
However, sometimes, the music, the lyrics convict and soften us. We remember times we have been hard—lacking in mercy, lacking in generosity. We cannot respond fully to “I surrender all,” because we recollect some area in which we have not been surrendered. We surrender it.
As the stream of music, like the spirit of God, flows through our hearts, it might meet obstacles, little pockets of anger, unforgiveness or self-will, and God willing, some of these dissolve.
Yes, music definitely does often melt my heart and usher me more swiftly into the presence of God. The spiritual value of it, of course, depends on what I do with the insights and convictions which spring from my time of listening to the music.
Whom do I like listening to? Michael Card for the lyrics, almost evenly good, and the music. Matt Redman whose lyrics and music are hugely uneven, but who is sublime at his best. Love Rich Mullins, his music, lyrics and heart. Like Stuart Townend. Many of the Vineyard compilations are marvellous.
Since I changed my whole way of praying two years ago, using soaking prayer, I have got interested in a style of music which aims to mimic “the soundscape of heaven,” like Ernesto Rivera, or Misty Edwards, who though uneven, but brilliant at her best.
My favourite classical pieces are the Messiah, and Pachelbel’s Canon. I like Byrd and Tallis too.
I haven’t been keeping up with worship music of late.
Who do you like listening to? Does worship music usher you more swiftly into the presence of God?
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Anita Mathias says
Yes, I love Taize too.
Wow, I wonder what story God was writing through the almost complete elimination of music from your life for 10 years.
Perhaps teaching you other ways to enjoy him? Am so glad that music is reentering your life, slowly!
LA says
I begged my parents for lessons at age 3 and have played ever since. God gave me a musically gifted daughter. Then I received from God a little baby boy who screamed at the slightest hint of live music. Church was spent in a room furthest from the music. All music in the house stopped. TV was ok, but the high fidelity stereo brought another round of screaming, as if in pain. At 6 months, our son was diagnosed with “dog hearing” where the harmonics you and I can't even perceive were extraordinarily painful. It was tough to understand what God was saying in our lives that something so central to my being had to be completely eliminated from my life. My baby has outgrown his ability to hear dog whistles and slowly, music is returning to our lives. I have missed the food it had provided for my soul and the part it played in my spirituality. I see now that I have learned its importance, discovered its strength and have reentered the world of music all the more appreciative having lived without it for the better part of 10 years.
My favorites are: Chris Rice for contemporary, Taize for contemplative (we have an authentic service 2x/month), all classical, most hymns, Warren Grayson Brown for gospel, Duke Ellington for sacred jazz, my best friend's compositions for Psalm settings and Kevin McChesney for handbells.