Worship Leader Misty Edwards and the worship team at the International House of Prayer (IHOP) in Kansas City, Missouri have breathed several new worship anthems into the Church from their annual Onething Live conferences. "You Won’t Relent," "You Satisfy My Soul," "New Jerusalem," "Baptize My Heart," “Arms Wide Open” and "Pour My Love on You” consistently bless me as a worshiper. I was excited to hear Psalms: Songs of David, a collection of songs written from the Word of God.

“The Entry” by Matt Gilman opens the compilation with a call to worship capturing the essence of Psalm 119: “I will listen to You. For the entry of Your word brings light and understanding to all.” My testimony is that hearing the Word of God sung over me led to me seeking Christ and my salvation, for which I’m eternally grateful. Matt’s alternative and ambient worship vibe sets the proper tone for these songs of contemplative, emotional and vulnerable worship capturing the essence of David, a “man after God’s own heart.”

“Tree” by Justin Rizzo features a theme found throughout this album. The Psalm 1 based song sings about how the Root of our faith and salvation is God and His Word. You’ll be raising your heart and hands in worship along with the song, “I want to be unmovable and unshakable, so let my roots go down deep, Unmovable and unshakable in You."

That idea of finding our peace, joy and identity in Christ is beautifully captured in Laura Hackett Park’s “When I Am Afraid,” which is a statement of trust and dependence on God in the midst of trials. Backed by a soulful choir, Laura declares, “I will not build my life upon the passing sands of how I feel inside from one moment to the next, but I will love You, Lord my rock, my God, my strength, a precious Cornerstone that floods of death could never shake.” The song is a gorgeous profession of Laura’s sincere desire to serve God.

“Door Keeper – One Thing” by Audra Lynn is inspired by Psalm 27 and the song compels me to worship God and profess my own appreciation for the sitting at the feet of Jesus. The song has an urgent musical feel, resembling Jennifer Knapp’s gravelly vocals. You’ll join in as Audra profoundly sings, “One thing have I desired, that will I seek, to behold the King in His glory, to sit at His feet.”

“Psalm 18” by Cory Asbury is compelling music. Asbury’s powerful vocals lift this song to its highest point in the bridge: “You deliver me for You delight in me, I am Your beloved one, Now I give my life—I surrender—come and take me, I am Yours!”

“My Soul Longs For You,” originally from Misty Edwards’ acclaimed 2007 album, Relentless, is a well-known worship anthem that has been covered by Jesus Culture as well as featured on the 2007 Onething Live album. This song also features David Brymer, who echoes King David’s Psalm 63 cry: “My soul longs for You, my soul longs for You, nothing else will do, nothing else will do.”

“Ascribe,” sung by Justin Rizzo and Jill Mahan, is a simple praise song written from Psalm 29 with a soaring, worshipful chorus that provides the perfect finale to the album: “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name, all power and all praise, for He is holy and He is worthy of all of the glory and all of our love.”

Closing Thoughts:
This is a completely worshipful album, in the style of Bethel Music, and Misty Edwards’ previous offerings of Spirit-led praise and worship directly to our King and Savior, Jesus. Every single song could be added to your Sunday morning worship set. My favorites are “The Entry,” “You Love Me Forever,” “You Are My Hope,” “Tree,” “When I Am Afraid,” “Doorkeeper,” “Psalm 18,” “My Soul Longs for You,” and “Ascribe,” which also appears on New Life Worship’s “Strong God” album. These twelve songs are now together on one album for the first time—on Anthology Volume 2, Psalms: Songs of David. The worship leaders at IHOP-KC all write and sing songs with an amazing passion and with unashamed praise and gratitude to our Savior that is very inspiring and emotionally moving. The eternal Love of God is beautifully expressed in these compelling worship songs.

Song to download now:
“Tree”