Praying with Music
One of the most profound experiences of my life was an evening spent with friends singing together in prayer. We were on an overnight Alpha retreat and the music was led by a woman with a beautiful singing voice who also played piano. I do not have a good singing voice, but that night, together as a group, we were inadvertently harmonising and the music we produced was heavenly. There is no doubt in my mind that the Spirit was present in that room and in our music.
Music can be a profoundly efficacious way to connect with God. If you are able to sing or play an instrument, you are truly blessed. However, I’m not gifted with music myself. So how can I possibly pray with music when I’m alone? Also, why would I?
There are many scientific studies that have examined the effect music has on the brain, and subsequently our wellbeing. Our favourite songs give us an immediate dopamine hit, and an old song can transport us back in time as memory is stirred. Music is both calming and cathartic. Mix this natural effect of music with prayer and the result can be powerful and deeply spiritual.
I use a simple Spotify playlist. Many sources will advise that we take a deep breath as the song begins, but to be honest I just listen and if I’m on my own maybe I’ll sing along. I often listen to Christian songs on the train as I commute to and from work, in the car on the way to the supermarket, and even as I cook the family dinner. Through listening to this music, I get to pray. The lyric of the song becomes my prayer, as the artist speaks on my behalf. I have my favourites that I return to because I relate to them the most. (I currently have “You Say” by Lauren Daigle pretty much on loop.)
Another way is to listen to music such as Gregorian chant or classical music as you pray. On Spotify, you can set a timer, so you can measure your prayer-time with the music. In this way, music is running in the background as you engage in your own prayer, when you probably don’t want the lyrics of a popular song distracting you. This type of music can also be deeply moving.
Given the two types of music we've suggested in this article, we’ve prepared two matching Spotify playlists designed to help you use music as part of your prayer-life. One has a mix of contemporary music called Songs for Prayer and another called Music for Prayer which contains classical pieces, choral music and some Gregorian Chant. I will add to them over time and I would love to receive recommendations from you, too. You can also listen to the playlists directly from our resources page.
Source: More about prayer
More about Prayer