Top 10: Spiritual Warfare Songs
07-05-2007
by Kevan Breitinger

According to Ephesians 5, we are to “speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs,” for the purpose of edification, to build up the Body of Christ. The following ten songs can be filed under “Music for Warriors,” and there’s not one of us that can’t use edification, or strength for the battle. Within this list of ten you’ll find a variety of styles and genres: gospel, rock, pop, and even reggae; no surprise considering the wild creativity of the One these songs glorify. By the way we’d love to hear your suggestions for Warfare Songs as well. Please drop a line to our editor or join us in the forum with your ideas and thoughts.

1. "Tears of the Saints" (Sounds of Melodies - Leeland): On a thickly melodic bed of strings, Leeland beautifully portrays both the Lord’s heart for the lost and Hebrews 12’s great cloud of witnesses crying for the fulfillment.

2. "Holy Visitation" (A Fresh Wind - Micah Stampley): Stampley’s passionate vocals paint vivid images of the coming King, and His empowerment for the saints today.

3. "Seated at the Right Hand of God" (Victory Live! - Tye Tribbett & GA): Fronted by Tye’s sister Maris, she of the dulcet tones, the dramatic shot-in-the-arm track points out the Lord’s present position of ministry at the right hand of God, and all that that means for His children.

4. "Reach" (Me Again - Jill Parr): A rousing revolution track that speaks to the way to victory, through the Lord and the tools He’s given us.

5. "Out My House" (Beth Moore’s Songs of Deliverance – Cece Winans): Fierce and funky, Cece identifies some of the common points of entry we give to the devil (TV, magazines, etc.), before kicking him to the curb.

6. "I’m Not Going Down" (All the Lovely Losers - Jason Gray): As they do on the rest of this superlative album, Gray’s lyrics speak powerful volumes: “Like a flower beneath the concrete/pushing up under the weight/to put a crack in the back of the pavement/and break through into the light of day.” A strong declarative song.

7. "Joy Robbers" (Whatever Makes You Dance - Ceili Rain): The inimitable Bob Halligan, Jr. announces the end of the road for the joy robbers in this bouncy joyous story song.

8. "Divine" (Ruined for Ordinary - Nate Sallie): Dramatic and declarative, this pop track celebrates again our position in the heavenlies.

9. "Taking Over" (To The Foundation - Christafari): The bouncy and irresistible reggae track announces the end of the devil’s reign.

10. "One More Round" (How Can We Be Silent - BarlowGirl): takes the boxing allegory to its fullest conclusion, over a bed of quirky beats and some Snidely Whiplash-ish trumpet moments. Strong empowering lyrics: “I am not defeated/though you cannot see it/I am never in the battle on my own,” bringing to mind that great warrior passage of 2 Corinthians 4: 8,9: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”