Our voices and the ability to play instruments are gifts from God. He enjoys music and even instructs us to praise Him with these gifts. Because of our love for Him, we should offer homage, admiration, and worship to Him. But can you praise God with the kind of music that you are currently listening to?
 

“Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary.“ - Psalm 96:1-6

Music shapes the heart faster than almost anything else. Scripture shows that praise is more than singing: it’s a way of fixing our minds and affections on Christ. Colossians 3:16 calls believers to let “the word of Christ dwell in you richly” through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. When we worship through music, we’re filling our minds with truth, strengthening our faith, and aligning our emotions with God rather than the world.

 

On the other hand, the music we consume influences our thoughts, desires, and habits. Proverbs 4:23 warns us to guard our hearts because everything we do flows from it. If the messages we take in glorify sin, self, or anything opposed to God’s ways, it slowly shapes us in the wrong direction. Turning from “worldly” (way of living that is counter to biblical godliness) music isn’t about legalism, it’s about wisdom. It’s choosing what feeds your spirit instead of what distracts or pulls you away from Christ.
 

“Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.” - James 3:10-12
 

We glorify Him with praise because of His Sacrifice on the cross. God poured Himself out for us. He is Lord and Creator of all. And worthy of all praise. Musicians all over the world have helped make praising the Lord possible and more accessible. Providing us with new songs and old to glorify His Holy name, and there is a Christian genre that matches whatever genre was your favorite before Christ.

Choosing Christ-centered music is a simple, daily way to keep your heart steady, your mind renewed, and your focus on Jesus.

"Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. - Psalm 103:1-5