85: How to Use Music to Grow in Your Faith

Have you ever wondered how music can help you grow closer to God? In this episode of the Music in Our Homeschool podcast, Gena Mayo shares inspiring ways to use music as a powerful tool for spiritual growth. From biblical foundations of music to personal stories of faith, you’ll discover 14 practical ways to weave worship into your daily life—through hymns, praise songs, classical works, journaling, playing instruments, and even dancing.

Whether you’re looking to encourage your children, strengthen your own devotional time, or bring more joy into your homeschool, this episode offers both inspiration and actionable steps. You’ll also hear about resources like Gena’s Great Hymns of the Faith courses and the Use Music to Grow in Your Faith course that can guide your family deeper into worship through music.

Tune in and learn how to let music become a life-giving rhythm in your home and a pathway to a closer walk with God.

Find links to all resources mentioned in this episode here: https://musicinourhomeschool.com/use-music-to-grow-in-your-faith/ 

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Transcript

E85 How to Use Music to Grow in Your Faith

Gena: [00:00:00] Hello, harmony heroes. Welcome back to the Music in Our Homeschool podcast. I am your host, Gena Mayo, your guide on this beautiful journey of including music and fine arts education in your everyday life. In episode 77, we talked about t he 10 elements of the best hymn study course ever, focusing on the brand new hymn course I just launched called Great Hymns of the Faith Volume Two. And, in episode 78, we talked about how to use hymns to teach truth and doctrine to your children.

Today, I want to dive into a topic that has been meaningful to me and to so many families I've had the joy of working with. It's how to use music to grow in your faith. If you've been longing for a fresh, inspiring, and practical way to deepen your spiritual walk, grow closer to God, and connect with him daily, you're in the right place.

Let's start with a personal story. One of the earliest songs that made a real impact on me, spiritually [00:01:00] and musically, was a choral rendition of the 23rd Psalm called Brother James' Air. I was only in sixth grade, but even then, I sensed that music wasn't just background noise or entertainment. It could reach places in my heart that words alone never could.

Music touched my soul, helped me feel God's presence, and gave voice to emotions I didn't have words for. This early experience shaped my lifelong belief: Music was created by God and is a powerful way He communicates with us, and a way that we can respond to Him.

What does the Bible teach us about music? Music is woven throughout scripture from the very beginning. The first biblical mention of music is about Jubal in Genesis 4:21. He's described as the father of all who play the lyre and harp. So even from the very beginning of humanity, music has been a part of [00:02:00] life.

The book of Psalms is filled with music references. The great biblical songwriters, Moses, David and Solomon wrote hundreds of songs of praise and worship. Psalms 92, 95, 96, 101, 104, 146, and 150 all mention singing or playing instruments to praise God.

Beyond Psalms, we see songs throughout scripture: the Song of Moses in Exodus 15, Hannah's prayer in 1 Samuel 2, Mary's Magnificat in Luke 1, and the songs in Revelation praising Jesus's victory. Even Jesus and his disciples sang songs after the Last Supper, see Matthew 26:30. and Paul and Silas sang praises to God while imprisoned, Acts 16: 25, demonstrating music's power to bring hope and freedom in hard times.

The Bible encourages us to sing and make music. Take a [00:03:00] look at Ephesians 5:18 and 19, Colossians 3:16, James 5:13, and more. Music is not optional. It's a vital part of our worship and spiritual life.

So you might wonder, is all music good for my faith? How do you know what to listen to or to sing? Well, there's some debate in Christian circles about musical styles, instruments, and rhythmic beats. I won't go there today, but what scripture makes very clear is the importance of focusing on lyrics and messages that are pure, true, uplifting, and glorifying to God.

Verses like Philippians 4:8 remind us to think on whatever's true, honorable, and praiseworthy. It's clear that music encourages holiness, joy, peace, and faith. It is clear that music that encourages holiness, joy, peace, and faith is good for your soul. Music that promotes negativity or unwholesome ideas is something [00:04:00] to avoid.

Music was used in many ways in scripture beyond worship. David played his harp to soothe King Saul's troubled spirit. Music accompanied celebrations and feasts like in Nehemiah 12 and Luke 15. And music was also used during times of mourning, like in Matthew 9:23. This reminds us that music touches the full range of human emotions, comfort, joy, sorrow, hope, and can help us express them in ways that words alone can't.

How can you use music to grow spiritually? Well, let me share 14 simple ways you can begin incorporating music into your daily faith walk-- starting today. Don't worry about including all 14 of them. Just pick one to start with.

I will also mention how my courses can support you in this journey, and links for everything I mention will be in the show notes or description, so you can check them out further.

Number one is [00:05:00] to listen to classical composers who worshiped God. Many famous classical composers were deeply faith-filled and intended their music to glorify God. Listening to their compositions can be a worship experience all on its own. George Friedrich Handel wrote Messiah in only 24 days with the goal of inspiring spiritual growth, not for entertainment. He said, "I should be sorry if I only succeeded in entertaining them. I wish to make them better."

And Johann Sebastian Bach signed his music with prayers like: Help me Jesus, and to God alone the glory. His music is rich in theology and spiritual depth.

Franz Joseph Haydn composed The Creation with daily prayers for divine strength. He said, " Never was I so devout as when I composed The Creation. I knelt down each day to pray to God, to give me strength for my work. When I was working [00:06:00] on The Creation, I felt so impregnated with divine certainty that before sitting down to the piano, I would quietly and confidently pray to God to grant me the talent that was needed to praise him worthily."

And Johannes Brahms believed all truly inspired ideas came directly from God. He said, "I will now tell you and your young friend here about my method of communicating with the Infinite. For all truly inspired ideas come from God."

Listening to these composers not only gives you beautiful music, but connects you with centuries of believers who praised God through their art.

Number two is to sing hymns: the songs of the church. Church music has changed over the centuries. It's clear from scripture that believers sang hymns, songs of praise to God. Jesus did. Paul and Silas did. Those in the early church were encouraged to, [00:07:00] but the actual style and type of songs has changed.

Today when we think of a hymn, it's a musical form that we would find in a church hymnal. They're typically in four-part harmony: soprano, alto, tenor, bass, with several verses, and possibly a chorus that repeats after each verse.

During the time of the Reformation, Martin Luther, who lived from 1483 to 1546, and who was a fine musician and composer, in addition to being a theologian, wrote hymns for churchgoers to sing in the vernacular. That means he wrote songs in their own language, as opposed to Latin, so that people could sing them themselves. Prior to this, it was usually just church choirs who sang in the church service.

Some beloved hymns are included in my courses: Great Hymns of the Faith Volumes one and two: Great is Thy Faithfulness, [00:08:00] Amazing Grace, Oh the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus, How Great Thou Art, Count your Blessings, and In the Garden. In those courses, you'll not only find the music and the lyrics, but stories behind each hymn, how to sing them in four-part harmony, and devotional reflections to make worship more meaningful for you or your family.

What are your favorite hymns? Start there. Sing them, study them. Write out the lyrics. Play them on an instrument if you can, and read about them.

Number three, praise songs. These are the more modern worship songs that many churches sing today, and they can also move your heart. They're often simpler musically, but can be deeply expressive.

I enjoy songs such as, Is He Worthy by Chris Tomlin, Revelation Song by Gateway Worship, and Cornerstone by Hillsong Worship. In my Use Music to Grow in Your Faith online course, you'll find [00:09:00] a great mix of praise songs alongside hymns and classical music, so you can worship in a way that resonates best with you and your family.

Number four is to enjoy instrumental praise music for reflection. Sometimes you might want to worship without words, just peaceful, instrumental music to help you focus on God's presence. Try searching for worship piano or instrumental worship playlists on YouTube or streaming services. This can be a beautiful way to pray, meditate on scripture, or calm your heart.

Number five is to praise God in everyday moments, like in the car or in the shower. Sing praises in your car during errands or even in the shower. It's a wonderful way to keep your heart tuned to God all day long.

Number six, sing with your kids. Make singing a part of your family rhythm. When my oldest children were young, we had a bedtime routine [00:10:00] of singing two faith-filled songs every night, rotating through a seasonal list. We might sing the first verse of Amazing Grace and a short praise chorus on Monday, and then the first verse of Victory in Jesus, and another short praise song on Tuesday. This helped instill scripture and praise in their hearts from a very young age.

Number seven, do a hymn study. Dig into the hymn lyrics, the history, and the theology. This can deepen your faith in new ways. If you want a wonderful hymn study course, you will definitely want to check out Great Hymns of the faith Volumes One and Two. Each course walks you through 10 hymns with engaging lessons with a focus on music education, as well as devotionals and Bible studies.

Number eight is to journal the song lyrics. I don't know if you've had this experience. You sing a song for years, and then you read the Bible and you realize the words are directly from scripture and you never even knew it. [00:11:00] Well, write down the words of your favorite hymns, and you might discover that's true, too.

Number nine, memorize scripture with songs. Did you know that from ancient times, songs and poetry have been used to teach and pass on the memory of significant events to the next generation, as well as to remind the present generation. The Song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32 is a good example of this. We can still use songs to accomplish this. There are some wonderful songs to use to memorize scripture. Decide which translation you'd like to use, and then search YouTube for the song. Here's an example of how to search for it. Psalm one song, ESV, memorization.

Number 10 is to focus on attributes of God or biblical themes. Perhaps you'd like to spend a week or even a month focusing on just one aspect of God or a particular theme, such as [00:12:00] hope, faith, praise and worship, Thanksgiving, salvation, the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, the incarnation, the resurrection, the second coming, heaven, holiness, joy, forgiveness, and peace. And if you aren't sure what I mean by attributes of God, it would be something along the lines of Creator or Savior. Find songs or hymns that have these topics or themes, and then use those in your worship and journaling.

Number 11 is to learn to play hymns. Do you play an instrument or maybe you'd like to learn? If you already do, be sure to include playing worship music on your instrument as a way to grow closer to God if you don't already play, but you'd like to learn. I have a few options for learning to play an instrument using hymns at Music in Our Homeschool.

Number 12 is to write your own songs. Express your personal faith [00:13:00] journey through songwriting Write your own hymns or praise songs. Writing your own hymns or praise songs can be a very meaningful way to connect with God and to process your experiences.

Number 13, use sign language in your worship. Have you ever tried signing the words with American Sign Language as you sing? It's a beautiful and physical way to engage your body in worship, and there are lots of free videos online to help you learn.

And number 14 is to dance to praise God. David danced with all his might before the Lord. Moving your body in joyful worship can be a powerful expression of praise, whether it's just simple hand movements or a full dance, invite your whole self into worship.

So as we leave today, I have a few quotes that have inspired me about the power of music in faith. Jonathan Edwards said, " The best, most beautiful and most perfect way that we have of [00:14:00] expressing a sweet concord of mind to each other is by music."

Martin Luther said, "Next to the word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world." He also said, "Music is one of the fairest and most glorious gifts of God, to which Satan is a bitter enemy, for it removes from the heart the weight of sorrow, and the fascination of evil thoughts."

And Plato said, "Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything."

So what is your next step? If you want even more ways to use music in your spiritual life, from praise songs to instrumental music and practical ideas for every day, check out my Use Music to Grow in Your Faith online course, and you'll also love the Great Hymns of the faith courses. You can find both of those at Learn.MusicinOurHomeschool.com or check out the show notes and description [00:15:00] for the links. These are perfect for families who want to grow spiritually while learning beautiful music, rich in faith and history.

How are you using music to grow in your faith? What songs or hymns touch your heart the most? Please leave a comment. I read every one of them and love hearing your stories. Thank you for spending time with me today. Remember, music is a gift of God, a beautiful bridge between our hearts and his. Use it to praise, to pray, to remember, to grow in truth and grace.

Until next time, my harmony heroes. Keep singing, keep worshiping, and keep growing in your faith. 

Find links to all resources mentioned in this episode here: https://musicinourhomeschool.com/use-music-to-grow-in-your-faith/