7 Ways Worship Helps Us Battle The Blues

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possesion, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

Are you in a funk or a bad mood? Perhaps you’re feeling sad, lonely, or rejected. I’ve been there too. Whatever the negative emotion your soul seems to be sitting in at the moment, I’d guess you want to move past it and get back to a joyful existence.

I have found the best way for me to battle the blues is by listening to worship music. I saved a playlist on my Amazon Music Station, called “Battle Songs,” and this is what I tune into when I need help getting out of my mood. There are many ways to worship; music is just one of them. But for today, I want to share seven ways listening to worship music can help us battles the blues.

1. Worship brings us into a community. – When we tune into our favorite worship station or load up our favorite CD, we all hear a similar message of hope. Our favorite worship artists sing about the same struggles and angst, we experience. When I allow my heart to swell in worship, I know I am not alone in the Body of Christ, I know there are others out there experiencing the same battles I am and searching for the same healing, protective shield worship brings to us. Worship is a communal activity.
2. Worship makes us brave. – As the presence of God fills your heart with song, it makes you realize there is hope to keep moving. It shows you what your eyes cannot see, that the solution to our temporal problems is as close as the breath of song and prayer. We can reclaim our stance of bravery in worship.
3. Worship changes our focus. – When we listen to the voices of the world, we will never be enough. When we worship the ONE who is greater than the world, we will receive the grace won at the cross, we will know redemption. This change of focus aligns us with the truth.
4. Worship reminds us of our salvation. – How easy it is to forget our salvation and let the enemy make us feel unworthy of forgiveness. When we fix our eyes on the one who overcame death we can walk through the gates of glory and stand forgiven on holy ground. Worship songs are filled with reminders of our salvation.
5. Worship is about our hope for our future. – We can move beyond our past as we let the shackles and chains of sin fall off of us. It is in the worship of God, who has picked up our broken past and created a masterpiece of beauty that we can fix our eyes on the hope of our future.
6. Worship evokes feelings of joy. – It really is as simple as that. When the music plays and we start to allow it to penetrate into our minds, it is almost impossible to stay sad. Taking it a step further and raising our hands to the Lord in abandonment helps us, release the tension of the day.
7. Worship is a revival. – In our songs of praise and worship, we show adoration to the Almighty God. When we worship with our hearts and our spirits, we awaken the power of the Almighty within us. God is drawn to us when we humbly worship Him. Worship revives our connection to our creator.

God demands a response from our souls as we worship. This practice evokes a reverence for the Lord that strips us of ourselves, making it all about Jesus. When our lives become all about Jesus, we no longer have to remain bound by the blues, because He moves us from the darkness into His light.

So, whether you use worship as a way to battle depression or as an act of reverence for the Lord, we know the power in worship transcends earthly constraints.

What suggestions have you tried to shake off the blues?

Here is my (current) favorite battle song on my playlist: CLICK HERE

Heavenly Father it is only because of your unfailing love that we can even enter into your presence and light. Because you live and are my rock and the God of my salvation, I can sing your praises. I want to sing praises to you and not be silent, I will give thanks to you forever! Your name I will glorify, Amen