Can music be a prayer?

Music is a gift from God and a central component of our worship. My friend Sarah has served as a worship and music leader in churches for more than 30 years. Sarah loves to share how music offers us a powerful way to connect with God and deepens our personal prayer time. We see this in the lyrics of the hymns and praise and worship songs we sing at church. Music is a form of prayer that allows us to praise, grieve, confess, or simply sit in the presence of God, especially when we don’t have our own words to express our hearts to God.

Music in Scripture

Music can help us reflect on God’s attributes: his love, faithfulness, and mercy. Scripture provides many examples of how music is a form of prayer:

• Psalm 150: “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!” We praise and worship God’s greatness with songs and instruments.

• Psalm 42: “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. We sing a heartfelt song of confession and lean into the gift of forgiveness.

• Exodus 15:1-21: “I will sing unto the Lord, for he is highly exalted… The Lord is my strength and my defense.” Celebrating victory and joy, like Miriam's song after the Israelites’ escape from Egypt

• 1 Chronicles 16:7-26: “Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.” Giving thanks to God, like David sings after the Ark of the Covenant was returned to Jerusalem

• Habakkuk 3:17-19: “Though the fig tree does not bud…yet I will rejoice in the Lord.” God is still our strength and salvation when we cry out with a broken heart

The power of music

“The Holy Spirit uses the words of the songs when I don’t have the words myself,” shares Sarah. “Sometimes music expresses what words cannot, and other times it helps you hear God when you can't hear him on your own.” This is the power of music: it speaks for us when we struggle for words and helps us process our emotions in conversation with God.

Sarah describes a powerful example of using music as prayer from her own life. Processing the devastating news that her sister had breast cancer, she felt overwhelmed with sadness and confusion. She found herself crying and praying, unsure of what to say to God. On the drive home, she turned on the radio, asking God to give her something to comfort her broken heart. At that moment, the song “Even If” by MercyMe started playing. When the singer sang, “Give me the strength to be able to sing ‘It is well with my soul,’” the song became her prayer, a reminder of God’s faithfulness in the darkest times.

A year later, Sarah’s husband was diagnosed with cancer, and once again, ”Even if” became her prayer. As she wrestled with grief and questions about why God would allow such pain, the music helped her process her faith. Through it, the Holy Spirit challenged her to reconcile her belief in God’s goodness with the reality of her suffering and unanswered prayers. “Even if God doesn’t do what I want him to do, I know that it will be okay,” she says. “God has a purpose, even when I don’t see it.” God's goodness remains true, even when life is hard and the outcomes are not what she hoped for. She didn't deny her pain but learned to hold both faith and grief together, trusting that God was still at work, even in the silence and sorrow.

Incorporating music into your prayers

If your prayer time feels dry or routine, try incorporating music into it. Singing or listening to music can inspire new thoughts and ideas and help you engage with God in a different way. Remember, there is no “one size fits all” way to pray.

Sarah offers some suggestions for using music for your prayer time:

• Choose instrumental music with quiet tones and simple melodies when you want a backdrop for prayer or Bible reading. Music without lyrics can help you focus on connecting with God without distraction.

• Let the music play softly as you focus on the words of Scripture; ask the Holy Spirit to bring discernment and clarity to your thoughts.

• If the song has lyrics, pay attention to their message and let the words shape your conversation with God.

• Be still in God’s presence. Acknowledge you might not have the right words and invite the Spirit to intercede on your behalf (Romans 8:26). There’s no need to always come to prayer t with a specific agenda or carefully crafted words.

During special seasons like Christmastime, Sarah suggests using some of your favorite Christmas songs to guide your prayers. Songs like "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel," "O Holy Night," or "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" can help you express longing, hope, or comfort. “Joy to the World” can become a celebration of God’s goodness and a declaration of praise.

When words fail, music has the power to express complicated emotions. Whether you are filled with sadness or joy or in a season of waiting, music can help guide your prayers. Let the Holy Spirit speak through the music, inviting you to rest in his presence, knowing that God is always with you. He hears you, he is guiding you, and he loves you.