On Devotions, Part 6: Christian Reading / Music

Part 1: Introduction | Part 2: Semper Gumby | Part 3: The Plan | Part 4: Bible Reading | Part 5: Bible Study

After my daily Bible reading and study, I like to spend just a few minutes in a worthwhile Christian book. I really don’t have any specific advice for you here; since everyone’s different, everyone’s reading and reinforcement needs are different; and the circumstances of your life are going to affect what books are available to you. There are lots of sources of recommendations out there; take a recommendation from a source you trust, and read something. I read just a section a day, for 10 or 15 minutes, just enough to give me something to think about. You might enjoy doing that as well.

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Next comes music.

When God designed me, he designed in a great appreciation for music, but he chose not to give me much ability to produce it. On the few occasions when I feel like bursting into song in the shower, I quit pretty quickly, out of consideration for others in the house and for my own sense of musical quality.

I find that music is an important part of my daily devotions; I like to place it just before prayer, where it helps set my mind in the right place for my speaking to God. But because of my musical limitations, I find that my own singing doesn’t yield the same result that listening carefully and appreciatively to good, well-performed recorded music does.

So over the years I’ve developed a list of recordings that contribute to my attitude of worship as I enter my prayer time–a playlist, if you will.

I have a couple of preferences that guide my selection:

• Firm commitment to a traditional rather than a contemporary style, though my conscience does allow some contemporary folk (as opposed to rock).
• Since I’m more of a visual than an auditory learner, I prefer videos that include the lyrics either in the video itself or in the comments below.

This is my list at the moment. I add to it all the time as I come across appropriate and effective recordings, and I cycle through the list, one piece a day.

• All I Have Is Christ
• Almighty Father
• Be Unto Your Name
• Behold Our God
• Bow the Knee
• Christ Is Mine Forevermore
• Christ, the Sure and Steady Anchor
• Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery
• Complete in Thee
• Deal Gently with Thy Servants
• Free from Guilt and Free from Sin
• God of Heaven
• Have Mercy on Me
• He Will Hold Me Fast
• Here Is Love (duet, 4 vv)
• Here Is Love (congregational, 2 vv)
• His Mercy Is More
• Holy Is He
• I Repent (a nod to my late friend Ken Bartholomew for introducing me to it)
• Is He Worthy?
• Jesus Shall Reign (non-postmillennial version :-) )
• Jesus, Draw Me Ever Nearer
• Joy Overflowing
• Just as I Am
• My Soul Finds Rest
• O God Beyond All Praising
• O Lord, My Rock and My Redeemer
• O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus
• See the Destined Day Arise
• See What a Morning
• Speak, O Lord
• Still, My Soul, Be Still
• The Perfect Wisdom of Our God
• The Power of the Cross
• There Is a Higher Throne
• This Is My Word
• Trust in God, My Soul
• We Rest on Thee
• What Grace Is Mine
• Worthy the Lamb

One closing observation. 

Music is property. I’ve linked to YouTube videos here for purposes of reference and demonstration. But if you intend to use a piece of music over the long term, you should pay for it. 

Part 7: Prayer | Part 8: Conclusion

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash