The year 2013 has been loaded with some of the highest quality songs and albums I’ve ever heard in Christian music. New songs from Holly Starr, Love & The Outcome, Kerrie Roberts, The Neverclaim, Sidewalk Prophets, The Afters, Citizens, Hillsong UNITED, Hillsong Young & Free, Colton Dixon, Mandisa, Christine D'Clario, The City Harmonic, Matt Maher, Christa Wells, Meredith Andrews, JJ Heller and Plumb have made their way onto my playlists featuring my top songs of the year.

I found it interesting that two singers each have two songs on my list, Tiffany Arbuckle Lee (Plumb), and Taya Smith from Hillsong UNITED/Young & Free. These are mostly songs I’ve written about for reviews and behind the song devotionals. These songs are not based on radio airplay or sales results, but how they have ministered to me personally. You can also view my entire (play)list here.

1. "Who You Are" by JJ Heller
What's so relatable is how JJ Heller's "relationship" songs are relevant for everyone, but especially if you know Jesus, then you know the ultimate answer to the quest for love can only be found in Him. No song better displays that emotion than "Who You Are," which includes the extremely moving description of parents who have painful questions for God about losing a child. They ultimately find redemption in knowing and being known by our Father in Heaven as gorgeously sung in the lyrics: "You have a Father's heart, And a love that's wild, And You know what it's like to lose, Yeah, You know what it's like, What it's like to lose a child." I started sobbing the first time I heard the emotional bridge of the song, it's that moving and beautiful.

2. "Need You Now (How Many Times)" by Plumb
"Need You Now (How Many Times)" is a wonderful song of encouragement and prayer to ask God to break your pride, live redemption's story, and move closer to who we're meant to be in Christ. Allow God and His Holy Spirit to change you to be more like Jesus, and move closer to His glory. The chorus of Plumb's song says it all: "How many times have You heard me cry out, 'God please take this?' How many times have You given me strength to just keep breathing? Oh I need You, God, I need You now." God wants us to know that He's faithful to complete what's He's started in all of us who've put all of our hope and trust in Jesus for our salvation.

3. "Not For A Moment (After All)" by Meredith Andrews
This song is a great way to pray along with Meredith and to remember that God will never leave or forsake you. Jeremiah 29:13 says, "You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart." Meredith has once again written a song that touches my heart and meets me where I am spiritually. As the song prayerfully proclaims: "Even in the dark, Even when it's hard, You will never leave me, After all." Amen.

4. "Have Your Eyes Open" by Christa Wells
"Have Your Eyes Open" features Ellie Holcomb and is a great healing song for any one dealing with depression or anxiety. Like all of Christa's songs, there is a lyrical nugget for Christians, "with ears to hear" the Truth of the Gospel.

In this song, Ellie and Christa vocally blend beautifully as they sing, "you have heard of the strange figure who visited the poor, He gave His own body to ransom their souls, seems too good to be true, but you haven't found it false. I believe there's a Light coming to find you if you keep your eyes open, have your eyes open when it comes." Those are some of the best lyrics I've ever heard in any song, and it moves me to tears.

5. "Lord, I Need You" by Matt Maher
"Lord, I Need You" is Matt Maher's hit song of 2013, which also features Audrey Assad. It's exactly the type of catchy corporate worship song I've come to love from this passionate artist. The song features instantly sing-able vertical and prayerful lyrics: "Lord, I need You, I need You, every hour I need You, my one Defense, my Righteousness, Oh God how I need You." I sing along with the top of my lungs when Matt belts out, "Where You are, Lord I am free, holiness is Christ in me." Amen.

6. "A City On A Hill" by The City Harmonic
The City Harmonic based "A City on a Hill" on the Beatitudes. Jesus really loves us just as we are, not who we pretend to be. Not only does He love our weaknesses, He blesses us because of them. Being poor in spirit, meek, persecuted, and insulted bring blessings from God, which is all we need.

I can't help but break down every time I listen to the song. This song encourages me and is one of the most inspirational songs I've ever heard. The City Harmonic really captures what it means to be loved unconditionally by Jesus. I love knowing that in my brokenness, I am actually closer to God. It is so wonderful to know that failing by the world's standards is what we are called to be as devoted followers of Jesus.

"A City on a Hill" is a great message and song for us to celebrate our freedom from sin based on our faith in Christ Jesus. Also, it is commanded by Jesus in Matthew 5:16 to "let your light shine" so that others may praise God based on seeing the power of His life in us. Sometimes we forget to give Jesus credit for our freedom and accomplishments. We need to celebrate that freedom with our hands reaching out to others in Christ and show His light in us and let Him shine in us, "like a City on a Hill." Amen.

7. "Magnified" by Christine D'Clario
This song provides me comfort as I sing at the top of my lungs: "Every breath we sing is Yours / Every heart and every soul will declare Jesus magnified." This song reminds all of us that the pain of this world is temporary and to live for Heaven. Christine's mission is all about singing songs that reflect what it means to have freedom in Christ. This song really sets me in the proper mindset to praise God for His amazing gift of salvation and for loving me so much that He gave His life away for all that was lost.

8. "Should've Been Me" by Citizen Way
With "Should've Been Me," Citizen Way boldly declares a statement of faith: "All of these years never heard it like this / It should've been me, it should've been us, should've been there hanging on a Cross, all of these shames, all of these scars, should've been stains that were never washed, why do I hide, why do you try, over and over and over again, I guess it just leaves me sayin' thank God, leaves me sayin' thank God for the should've been." Amen! This worship anthem is just the type of infusion that the Church needs with its honesty and bold lyrics. The song has quickly become a prayerful anthem in my daily devotional time.

9. "You Are" by Colton Dixon
I love the bridge of this song, "If I had no voice, If I had no tongue, I would dance for You like the rising sun. And when that day comes and I see Your face. I will shout Your endless glorious praise." That type of declaration of commitment and dancing with unashamed joy before the Lord is why David was considered "a man after God's own heart." I sing along with Colton at the top of my lungs in adoration of my King, Jesus.

10. "Overcomer" by Mandisa
I can't get enough of the biblical and worshipful chorus of "Overcomer"--"You're an overcomer / Stay in the fight ‘til the final round / You're not going under / ‘Cause God is holding you right now / You might be down for a moment / Feeling like it's hopeless / That's when He reminds You / That you're an overcomer." The album's theme centers on the idea that there is hope in the midst of life's battles. That theme is a continuation of the empowering message from Mandisa's hit song, "Stronger." The song is such a great reminder that there is hope in Jesus, who tells us in John 16:33 (NIV): "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Amen to that!

Songs 11-20
11. "One Drop" by Plumb
12. "Wake" (Live) by Hillsong Young & Free
13. "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" by Hillsong UNITED
14. "Every Good Thing" by The Afters
15. "Made Alive" by Citizens
16. "One Truth One Life" by The Neverclaim
17. "In Your Sight" by Kerrie Roberts
18. "Help Me Find It" by Sidewalk Prophets
19. "He Is With Us" by Love & The Outcome
20. "Through My Father's Eyes" by Holly Starr