Putting on the Hits

The growth of Christian and Gospel music in popularity and exposure is great for reaching new audiences. Mainstream media continues to embrace inspirational music outside of the Holiday Season, and radio stations may put a gospel song into rotation alongside what is deemed secular music. Record companies often select the most popular hits from a selected year or style of music to package and sell to the masses. While it is wonderful to have such a variety available in one place, if we are not careful, we can miss some hidden jewels.

Concert after concert, and program after program reveal a common trend. Many dance and movement ninistries are moving to the same songs, with similar movements and interpretations of the songs. This occurs so often that dancers are asked to provide song selections in advance to avoid duplication on the same program. We must have an ear to hear what the Spirit of the Lord is saying to the church. If we only listen to what everyone else deems "popular," than we may fail to hear the song that the Lord wants us to use to minister to His people.

Purchasing every Christian or Gospel CD or downloading random songs online may not be the best way to hear new music. When we spend time with the Lord in prayer and tune our ears into the Spirit, the Lord will "send" us a song that speaks a Word now. Dance ministers must stop looking for the "hits" and allow the Lord to provide us with songs of deliverance. Let us no longer allow ourselves select the songs that people are familiar with and are emotionally moved by. When we allow the Lord to select the songs for us, we will see the people moved by His power, and not by our performance.

Job 35:10-11 (NKJV)
But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, Who gives songs in the night, Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth, and makes us wiser than the birds of heaven?’

Psalm 40:3 (NKJV)
He has put a new song in my mouth—Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, and will trust in the LORD.

Psalm 42:8 (NKJV)
The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me— A prayer to the God of my life.

Colossians 3:16 (NKJV)
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.