There are many well known hymns that have reverberated the stained glass windows of the smallest of churches to the highest cathedral ceilings. The ones that stick in your heart and your mind as you go about your daily chores.
Most people have a favorite Christian worship song that lifts them up when they are down, or rings through their mind as they work or play. It seems that people are either really drawn to music, or don't pay much attention to it at all.
I grew up with music. We used to sing in the car, because - what else was there to do? There were no mobile phones or other devices to entertain us on long car trips. We counted car tags and letters on signs and any other things that we could think of to do.
It has been shown that we can memorize quicker when we learn it to music. When Scripture is applied to a tune, we seem to carry it more dear to our hearts and minds. Then when we attach an emotion (situation) to it as well, when we hear the song, it will trigger that emotion (cellular memory). AND it speaks to your spirit!
So if you identified with a song when you were going through a tough time, it might feel like a dear old friend who stuck with you during hard times. An example of this is the song, "Amazing Grace", as it seems to strike a chord for people who have had huge transformations in their lives and reminds them of where they have come from to where they are today. Usually that is a good thing, and it is humbling to remember that the Lord uses the broken hearted and discarded.
John Newton wrote "Amazing Grace" in 1773 after he became a minister. He was the son of a seasoned sea captain in the slave trade. And John himself became a trader at a young age. He was soon a very hardened seaman and slave trader until a very violent storm at sea in 1748.
The storm was so bad that he thought they were going to die! He remembered his mothers teachings of the Bible from the time when he had still been at home. (She had died when he was very young and that is why he ended up at sea with his father.) This storm brought a transformation to his life that was quite visible. We know this because he later became a minister.
The lyrics of the hymn were a reflection of his own life and transformation and his thankfulness for coming out of a difficult lifestyle and time. And the words still resonate with many, many people.
"Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see."
The words penned hundreds of years ago continue to be a powerful and moving hymn that still reverberates in Christian worship music as singers recount being changed and being transformed into a new Life with Christ. Knowing what one has been saved from and redeemed from brings much thankfulness and a humble heart.
Christian worship music and songs come from heartfelt lyrics and tunes that blend musical sound and expressions from the heart that sing praises and accounts of restoration to our God and King.