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You are here: Home / Prayer / Praying With Music – How to Use Music as Prayer

April 13, 2019 ·

Praying With Music – How to Use Music as Prayer

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Praying with music is a powerful way to pray. Learn how to pray through music, singing prayers, allowing the song and music to be your prayer.

Do you use music in your prayer? Have you tried singing prayers or using a song as prayer? Praying with music can be a powerful way to pray.

Let’s look at three ways you can use music in your prayers – maybe even one you haven’t thought to try before.

Music as Prayer in the Bible

Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. (Psalm 96:1)

In my childhood church, we always sang “amen” at the end of every hymn. I didn’t think much about it then, but that word signified the prayerfulness of the song. We were indeed praying as we sang. Although many churches have phased out the “amen,” songs are still a form of prayer.

We see numerous examples in the Bible of music as prayer. The book of Psalms were originally songs, though now we most often use them as prayer. In Acts, we see Paul and Silas praying and singing as they were locked in the prison.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. (Acts 16:25)

Music has always been used to connect people more deeply to Scripture and prayer.

Praying with music is a powerful way to pray. Learn how to pray through music, singing prayers, allowing the song and music to be your prayer.

Why Pray Through Music?

Music has an amazing ability to speak to our hearts and minds like no other communication. It has been shown to help create new pathways in the brain for communication for those left without speech after illness or injury. It becomes deeply linked to memory and emotion.

Music can speak what our minds cannot.

I’ve come to love this form of prayer. I find that music speaks deeply to my soul. I’ve found songs that become my heart’s cry – putting words to feelings, dreams, questions, doubts, sorrows.

The songs come and go for me, depending on the season and needs of my heart. Recently I found a song that put words to what I didn’t even know was weighing on my heart. As I Iistened to the song, my heart felt lighter as I prayed along. I put the song on repeat and took the dog on little bit longer of a walk – and was able to have a conversation with God that I’d needed to have, but hadn’t been able to articulate until now.

I wish to see all art, principally music, in the service of Him who gave and created them.  Music is a fair and glorious gift of God.  I would not for the world forego my humble share of music.  Singers are never sorrowful, but are merry, and smile through their troubles in song.  Music makes people kinder, gentler, more staid and reasonable.  I am strongly persuaded that after theology there is no art that can be placed on a level with music; for besides theology, music is the only art capable of affording peace and joy of the heart…the devil flees before the sound of music almost as much as before the Word of God.  ~ Martin Luther

3 Forms of Praying with Music

Just as we’ve talked about praying from scripture, so can we pray from songs. Songs connect with our emotions and hearts. The language of the lyrics is rhythmic and poetic. Songs work their way into our souls and help us express what’s on our hearts.

Let’s look at three ways you can experience praying with music.

Praying with music is a powerful way to pray. Learn how to pray through music, singing prayers, allowing the song and music to be your prayer.

Idea #1: Let the Song Be Your Prayer

Sing along and allow the words of the song to be your prayer. Sing it. Listen to it. Let the song permeate your heart.

Allow the song to open your heart and mind to conversations with God. If a verse or a few words tug at your heart, enter the conversation with God.

I’ll put a single song on repeat so I can fully immerse myself in the song. Starting off by listening to the words and allowing the music to move my soul. Then, I’ll begin to sing along, singing heartfelt words of prayer to God. As I feel prompted, I may take my prayers further with God as I let the song play in the background.  

This is a song I’ve been praying with lately:

Idea #2: Pray the Lyrics

How often do you sing songs in church or along with the radio, but don’t take time to really consider the words? Hymns and worship songs are based on prayer and Scripture. Try using just the lyrics for your prayer.

Don’t sing along. Instead, simply read the words, taking time to consider what they mean and how they can be your prayer.

I like to use traditional hymns for this method. Too often, I’ve sung along in church, not really thinking about the words. Slowing down and reading the words brings a deeper understanding to these beautiful hymns.

Give it a try with something Amazing Grace or How Great Thou Art. Try not to sing along, but just read and pray the words.

How Great Thou Art

O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed:

Refrain:
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee:
How great thou art! How great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee:
How great thou art! How great thou art!

When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees,
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze:

Refrain

And when I think that God, his Son not sparing,
Sent him to die, I scarce can take it in,
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

Refrain

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: “My God, how great Thou art!”

Refrain

Idea #3: Use Music to Help You Focus

Do you listen to music when you study or work? I do. In fact, I have different playlists, depending on how much I need to focus.

I’ve found that music has a profound ability to drown out the distractions in my mind and help me become laser-focused on the task at hand.

Music can do the same for your prayers. Try putting some soft music on in the background for your prayers to help you focus.

I’ve been loving the Ambient Radio station on Pandora. The Insight Timer app is also great – you can set a timer so you’re not tempted to check the clock while you’re praying and choose from a variety of background music options.

Praying with music is a powerful way to pray. Learn how to pray through music, singing prayers, allowing the song and music to be your prayer.

Resources for Praying with Music

If you’re looking for a song that references a specific passage or wondering what verses a particular song uses, WordToWorship.com is a great resource. You can look up Scripture and lyrics here and find a song to pray.

Click here for a playlist of some of my favorite songs for prayer. These are the songs I’m praying now and songs that have ministered deeply to my heart in other seasons. 

PRAY DEEP CHALLENGE: Pray the song “How Great Thou Art”. Read the words and pay attention to how they relate to your life. Try to keep yourself from singing; instead focus on the words and what they mean to you.


Like this post? Explore this and other forms of prayer through the Pray Deep prayer journals. Each book will lead you through a variety of prayer methods through 21 days of focused prayers. Get started with one today!

{These are affiliate links – and my own books – so any purchases help grow and sustain this blog.}

Sing to the Lord a new song! Music is a form of prayer. Just look at the beautiful songs (Psalms) in the Bible! Find new ways to use music as prayer. (+ free printable prayer cards)
Pray Deep

This post is part of the “Pray Deep” series. For more information on the series, click HERE.

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Next Post: Writing Letters To God – 10 Simple Prayer Journal Ideas »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. JenJenny says

    March 12, 2015 at 6:51 am

    I love looking up the lyrics to music. They can be so comforting and inspiring.

    • Kathryn says

      March 13, 2015 at 9:06 pm

      There’s something about reading the lyrics that really bring them home – maybe because i don’t always understand all the words just listening.

  2. Tai East says

    March 12, 2015 at 10:31 am

    I actually use this every morning during my prayer time. Singing is a great way to connect and become more intimate with GOD.

    • Kathryn says

      March 13, 2015 at 9:18 pm

      What an awesome way to start each day!

      • Tai East says

        March 13, 2015 at 11:55 pm

        The absolute best way! 🙂

  3. Libby says

    March 12, 2015 at 4:03 pm

    My husband is a retired Minister of Music so I fully appreciate this post. Yes, music speaks to the soul unlike any other medium. As a Prescool Music Specialist for our State convention, I often used this quote in my conferences: “Music prints indelibly on ones soul the text it carries!” Although I was specifically speaking of the importance of using music with children, it still holds true for adults. God’s Word comes alive so many times when we read or even sing the music of the scripture. Thank you again for this beautiful post.

    • Kathryn says

      March 14, 2015 at 6:54 pm

      Love how music can speak to your soul like nothing else can. How music can become part of our memories, our experience, our essence.

  4. Dawn Boyer says

    March 13, 2015 at 7:10 pm

    How Great Thou Art is one of my FAVORITE Hymns. I have often been so excited when I have recognized scripture in the music that we sing. I used to teach my children scripture to song, I used to memorize scripture to song! It seems only natural to put His words to music as a form of prayer and praise.

    Blessings!
    Dawn

    • Kathryn says

      March 13, 2015 at 9:29 pm

      We said “How Great Thou Art” as a prayer at a women’s conference recently and it was SO powerful. Was an amazing way to reconnect with a familiar hymn.

Trackbacks

  1. Pray Deep: Ignite Your Prayer Life - Finding Hope says:
    March 11, 2015 at 7:04 pm

    […] Praying a Song […]

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Hi, I'm Kathryn! I'm glad you're here to journey with me! I'm just an ordinary girl following an extraordinary God, learning to seek God's possible in this world of impossible. Fueled by loads of coffee, I'm passionate about helping and encouraging you along this journey, too! Let's step forward together and learn practical ways to live into God's possible! Read More…

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