The Perfect Worship Playlist For The Hopeless & Discouraged
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Life is all about seasons. The good news is that seasons change, but what do we do when we are in a challenging season? What can we do when we are feeling discouraged and hopeless? My answer is always praise and worship. That is why I have curated this playlist for when you are feeling hopeless and discouraged.
When we get into a posture of worship and lift praises to our Father, it shifts our perspective and transforms our attitudes. That is why it is so powerful when we are weary or discouraged.
These songs are some of the ones I turn to when I am struggling to find hope. They will point you back to the ultimate source of hope, and they will transform your outlook on your circumstances as you begin to feel renewed and refreshed in the presence of our Father!
Here’s what you should do - Open the prayer guide on your phone or print them out and have them close by. For the next few days, find a quiet time where you have 20-30 minutes free and play the playlist at your preferred volume. ( I like loud because it blocks out distracting thoughts.)
Sit with each song. Listen to the words. As the days go on, you will learn the lyrics, so sing the ones you know as if you were praying them. Read through the guide for each song. Practice praising and worshipping. Pray the prayers and then add your own words where you feel lead.
Grab a journal and write down what you think you may be hearing the Lord say to you.
These playlists are a ongoing series here at A Love Worth Living For. Members of our community get pdf guides to accompany the playlist. If that interests you then know you are of course invited to join our community of thousands of praying women by clicking here!
All the verses marked TPT shared in today post are taken from one of Mike and I’s very favorite translations, The Passion Translation. We love this version and the heart behind it. The best part is the Kindle version is usually available on Amazon for under $10. Last time I checked, it was only $8.99! You can check it out here.
If you are a Apple Music user, or even just an iTunes user, you can find the whole playlist here! If you aren’t you can sign up for Apple Music here and get a 3 month free trial!
Son Of God by Cory Asbury
“The spotless Lamb for every sinner slain
Our victory our hope beyond the grave
He has overcome He has overcome, yeah
Now my song will ever be of my Savior's love for me
When at last His face I see With all the saints in glory”
Scripture
And everything I’ve taught you is so that the peace which is in me will be in you and will give you great confidence as you rest in me. For in this unbelieving world you will experience trouble and sorrows, but you must be courageous, for I have conquered the world!” John 16:33 TPT
We have this certain hope like a strong, unbreakable anchor holding our souls to God himself. Our anchor of hope is fastened to the mercy seat which sits in the heavenly realm beyond the sacred threshold, and where Jesus, our forerunner, has gone in before us. He is now and forever our royal Priest like Melchizedek. Hebrews 6:19-20 TPT
Focus
Use this song to meditate on or imagine Jesus going to the cross and Him rising victoriously. Picture the risen Jesus with open arms welcoming you to Himself with all of your shortcomings. Picture the Father, inviting you to Himself rest for a moment in His presence.
If you are carrying any burdens in this season, picture all of those worries or insecurities like a backpack. As the song reminds you of Jesus’ triumph, imagine Him lifting that bag off of your shoulders and welcoming you into His victory and perfect rest.
Prayer Guide
Jesus, I thank you for that cross. I thank you for enduring my punishment and paying my price. You have overcome. You are victorious. You did what no one else could do.
Jesus, thank You that there is a place for me. Thank You for open arms. Your love will never let go of me. Thank You that Your love is stronger than anything I will ever face in this life.
Thank You for this hope that I now have as an anchor in this life. Thank You that Your love steadies me. When my circumstances rise and begin to shake me and toss me to and from, help me to remember that I can ALWAYS look to You and find security, help, and rest.
If you are struggling with feeling overwhelmed or discouraged I want to help! I have created a printable mini workbook all about what to do when life hands you more than you can handle. You can grab that FREE printable by clicking here!
Medley: In Christ Alone / Solid Rock by Travis Cottrell
“And as he stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry, to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till he returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand”
Scripture
So now I live with the confidence that there is nothing in the universe with the power to separate us from God’s love. I’m convinced that his love will triumph over death, life’s troubles, fallen angels, or dark rulers in the heavens. There is nothing in our present or future circumstances that can weaken his love. There is no power above us or beneath us—no power that could ever be found in the universe that can distance us from God’s passionate love, which is lavished upon us through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One! Romans 8:38-39 TPT
Focus
Nothing is too big for Him. Nothing scares Him. Nothing can separate us from Him. NOTHING. Any separation we perceive is ALWAYS imagined.
God is not mad at you. His wrath was satisfied by the price Jesus paid on your behalf.
God is not scared or worried about your circumstances like you may be. He knows the big picture and is working all things for your good.
Jesus gave His life to set you free and to make a relationship with you possible.
Prayer Guide
Jesus, You alone are my hope. You alone are my strength. You quiet my fears. You quiet the part of me that is always striving to be more, to earn more, to do more, to fix things. In Your presence, I find comfort and peace.
You have defeated death. You are victorious. You have set me free from sin curse, and you have released me from the grip it had over my life. I will forever have hope because I forever have You and Your love.
Beautiful Jesus by Jonathan David & Melissa Helser
“Beautiful Jesus, My glorious friend
The One who never grows weary and stays till the end
Oh how I love You, I cannot begin to say
All of the reasons that I love to sing Your name
I love You, no one's like You
Keeper of my heart
Beautiful Jesus”
Scripture
Don’t be obsessed with money but live content with what you have, for you always have God’s presence. For hasn’t he promised you, “I will never leave you alone, never! And I will not loosen my grip on your life!” So we can say with great confidence: “I know the Lord is for me and I will never be afraid of what people may do to me!” Romans 13:5-6 TPT
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of deep sorrows who was no stranger to suffering and grief. We hid our faces from him in disgust and considered him a nobody, not worthy of respect. The Sin-Bearer Servant Yet he was the one who carried our sicknesses and endured the torment of our sufferings. We viewed him as one who was being punished for something he himself had done, as one who was struck down by God and brought low. But it was because of our rebellious deeds that he was pierced and because of our sins that he was crushed. He endured the punishment that made us completely whole, and in his wounding we found our healing. Isaiah 53:3-5 TPT
Focus
We don’t spend enough time meditating on the fact that God is ALWAYS with us. Holy Spirit dwells within us, and we are never alone. We have a constant source of help and guidance, and wisdom.
Prayer Guide
Beautiful Jesus. Thank You for calling me, friend. I love You, Jesus. There is no one like you. Thank You for Your Spirit.
As you practice thinking of Jesus as your friend, you can begin to tell Him about the things weighing on your heart just as you would with an earthly friend. Make sure to listen for His response.
Because Of Who You Are by Vicki Vohe
“Because of who you are, I give you glory
Because of who you are, I give you praise
Because of who you are, I will lift my voice and say
Lord, I worship you because of who you are
Lord, I worship you because of who you are
Jehovah Jireh, my provider
Jehovah Nissi, Lord, you reign in victory
Jehovah Shalom, my Prince of Peace
And I worship you because of who you are”
Scripture
He existed in the form of God, yet he gave no thought to seizing equality with God as his supreme prize. Instead he emptied himself of his outward glory by reducing himself to the form of a lowly servant. He became human! He humbled himself and became vulnerable, choosing to be revealed as a man and was obedient. He was a perfect example, even in his death—a criminal’s death by crucifixion! Because of that obedience, God exalted him and multiplied his greatness! He has now been given the greatest of all names! Philippians 2:6-9 TPT
He himself carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we would be dead to sin and live for righteousness. Our instant healing flowed from his wounding. 1 Peter 2:24 TPT
Who then would dare to accuse those whom God has chosen in love to be his? God himself is the judge who has issued his final verdict over them—“Not guilty!” Who then is left to condemn us? Certainly not Jesus, the Anointed One! For he gave his life for us, and even more than that, he has conquered death and is now risen, exalted, and enthroned by God at his right hand. So how could he possibly condemn us since he is continually praying for our triumph? Romans 8:33-34 TPT
“I leave the gift of peace with you—my peace. Not the kind of fragile peace given by the world, but my perfect peace. Don’t yield to fear or be troubled in your hearts—instead, be courageous!” John 12:27 TPT
Focus
The names of God reveal His heart and character towards us. Psalms say that understanding what His names reveal about Him is a key in learning to trust in Him fully.
Spend time during this song looking up the verses and meaning of the names mentioned.
Jehovah Jireh
Jehovah Nissi
Jehovah Shalom
You can go even further by looking up a few more.
Jesus, Your Love by Kristene DiMarco
There is a strength that rises up in me
To know that You've been here before me
A strength beyond what I can see
Jesus, Your love
Jesus, Your love
So let my heart tell You again
When seasons change and stories end
Your steady love
It will sustain me through it all
Jesus, Your love
Scripture
I love each of you with the same love that the Father loves me. You must continually let my love nourish your hearts. John 15:9 TPT
Then you will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences—the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is his love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding—this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God! Ephesians 3:18-19 TPT
Focus
I kept this song on repeat during and after my first miscarriage. And by repeat, I mean, I left it on and played it over and over and over for a couple of weeks.
When life gets tough, it is challenging to trust the Father and believe that He has good in store for you. I clung to that chorus and over and over sang it until the words felt true to my soul.
Prayer Guide
This is an excellent song to play when you need to talk with your soul.
So let my heart choose to tell you again and again, that even though seasons change sometimes change without much notice and stories that I was looking forward to may end without the happily ever after I imagined, that Your love IS life to me. It WILL keep and sustain me through it all. Your love is better than life, and You will not leave me in these circumstances.
Jesus At The Center by Israel & New Breed
So Jesus, be the center of Your church
Jesus be the center of Your church
And every knee will bow
And every tongue shall confess You Jesus, Jesus
From my heart to the Heavens, Jesus be the center
It's all about You, yes, it's all about You
Scripture
He existed before anything was made, and now everything finds completion in him. Colossians 1:17 TPT
Even though you were once distant from him, living in the shadows of your evil thoughts and actions, he reconnected you back to himself. He released his supernatural peace to you through the sacrifice of his own body as the sin-payment on your behalf so that you would dwell in his presence. And now there is nothing between you and Father God, for he sees you as holy, flawless, and restored, Colossians 1:21-22 TPT
Focus
This is a prayer I always come back to. Life can knock us out of alignment. Circumstances can distract us and pull our attention. Somehow we can forget that we are in a relationship with the creator of the universe.
In those places of distraction or misaligned priorities, we can come back to this prayer and plea — this outcry for the proper order of things.
Prayer Guide
Jesus, be the center. Jesus, take the place in my life that you deserve.
All of the things that would distract or pull my focus, all of the things that would steal my hope or cloud my perspective, all the things I strive for and everything that I am holding on to. Nothing else matters compared to the joy and the peace of knowing You. You are the only One that satisfying my heart's greatest longings.
Jesus, start with my heart, and together let's declare Your name and Your goodness to the world.
If you are a Apple Music user, or even just an iTunes user, you can find the whole playlist here! If you aren’t you can sign up for Apple Music here and get a 3 month free trial!
I find that repetition only increases the over all experience. As you sing the songs each morning and pray the words you are learning they get stuck in your head and follow you into your day. I will listen to the same playlist until I am feel ready to move on.
Check back next month for a new playlist!
If you want to really dive in and further discover the love the Father has for you I highly suggest you sign up for our 6-Day challenge Extravagant which explores His love in fun and maybe new-to-you ways. You can join the challenge here.
