The standout new pop release Yellow Balloons by David Dunn is his sophomore album, following his successful debut album Crystal Clear. The new release features the upbeat and catchy song "I Wanna Go Back," which is making waves at Christian radio with its rich, meaningful content. 

Thinking about the influence of deep-thinking pop songs, I thought of these ten songs which have all had radio success but are also based on deep spiritual truths. Enjoy these videos of hit songs from the past couple of years that are my favorite deep thinking pop songs. All of these songs have also been featured as behind the song devotionals. God bless!

1. "What You Want" by Tenth Avenue North
"What You Want" stirs my heart and increases my convictions to live out the words of the song. When I listen to this song I am more committed to taking up the cross of Jesus and dying to myself so I can be a better follower of Jesus as He instructs us in His Word in Luke 9:23: "If any of you want to walk My path, you're going to have to deny yourself. You'll have to take up your cross every day and follow Me." We all love our comforts, and this song challenges me to think more of others and to share Christ more than to focus on myself. The cost of discipleship is to make Him the Lord of our lives. Respond to Jesus by singing along: "There's no greater plan that I need to know, You only ask me to follow."
Read the devo here.

2. "The River" by Jordan Feliz 
The chorus, "We're going down to the river, down to the river to pray, let's get washed by the water, washed by the water and rise up in amazing grace" does an excellent job of explaining what grace is all about. My pastor uses the acronym "God's Riches At Christ's Expense" to define grace. The picture of God's grace being poured out, like water, is a beautiful and biblical image of the water and the blood that poured out of our Savior Jesus Christ when He hung on the Cross to provide God's riches to us at His own expense. When you've put all of your hope and trust in Jesus for your salvation, you can't help but want to celebrate that free gift of undeserved and unmerited favor from God. The Christian walk is summed up poetically in the lyrics "I've seen it move in my own life, took me from dusty roads into paradise. All of my dirt, all of my shame, drowned in the streams that've made me born again."
Read the devo here.

3. "The God I Know" by Love & the Outcome 
"The God I Know" is a great way to thank Jesus for our undeserved gift of grace. We are called as Christians to believe in the freedom that we have in the cross of Jesus. We are free from our addictions, our insecurities and perfectionism. Jesus came to die for us so that we can all truly live in Him. This song is also about submitting all of your worries, anxieties and stress to God and letting Him be your guide, acknowledging that "I can throw my hands up, worries down, I remember when He showed me how. No strings attached when He saved my soul, I want you to know the God I know."
Read the devo here.

4. "I Wanna Go Back" by David Dunn 
This upbeat song was birthed from David's need to go back to his roots of childlike faith in God after experiencing the tragic loss of his niece. My youngest daughter has that childlike faith God challenges us to have. There's a lot more we can accomplish together by leaning into God as opposed to trying to solve life's challenges on our own. As the song cries out, we all want to feel healing and release the weight of our doubts and sing, "this little light, gonna let it shine." That type of freedom can only come from Jesus, who tells us in Matthew 18 that we need to come to Him with faith like "little children." Having grown up with a works-based faith, songs like this help remind me of the biblical truth that God sent His only begotten son, Jesus, to seek and save the lost. Those with a childlike faith can sing along, "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so." 
Read the devo here.

5. "Exhale" by Plumb 
In listening to Plumb's journey over the past few albums, you can hear how her life and faith is reflected in her art, and never more so than in Exhale. You can hear Tiffany's vertical expressions of relying completely on God for His breath and Holy Spirit to sustain her. I absolutely love Tiffany's intentionality and complete focus on God's provision in her life. Continuing the discussion about how she's suffered from panic attacks, shortness of breath and praying "God please take this" from her song "Need You Now," this song celebrates God's breath, His Holy Spirit being breathed into her life and her marriage. You'll be blessed by this powerful song, which is a stand-out anthem with a convicting declaration: "Oh God, we do not exist for us, gut to share Your grace and love and exhale."
Read the devo here.

6. "Higher" by Unspoken 
What's awesome about this upbeat song is that it provides encouragement and personal motivation to fight the good fight of faith and finish the race of life strong. God knows what we need, and He loves and cares for each of us deeply. When you put yourself under a microscope and examine whether you really believe all of the words of this great song, you'll find that it will challenge your faith and how closely you are walking with God. The song also addresses the spiritual fight that we all face daily. Satan gives us temptations, which God considers trials that we can overcome. "Higher" is a song, a prayer and a call for revival in our hearts. I am challenged to believe these words when I sing along and believe with all of my heart: "All that I have, all I've been given, all of my life's ambition, is to worship, is to honor, is to bring You praise."
Read the devo here.

7. "Sparrows" by Jason Gray 
I've long admired Jason's music ministry, his ability to create an accessible and catchy melody and a personal connection to a deep and meaningful topic. We need to remember that "you can't add a single day by worrying." We all deal with a level of self-doubt and feel alone sometimes, and I appreciate Jason's intentionality to speak the truth about that topic and not try to judge or manage our feelings. This song and the biblical truth behind the song is such an encouraging reminder of God's sovereignty and that He has been, is and always will be with us. If God is with us, we can endure anything. I have spent time reflecting on and singing this song to God, and it always gives me comfort. For me, songs like "Sparrows" provide opportunities for God to whisper to me my true identity, not found in what I do or don't do, but in who I am, and most importantly to whom I belong. When you feel alone or are questioning your place in the world, know that "you may feel alone, but you're not on your own."
Read the devo here.

8. "Be One" by Natalie Grant 
I have found that by being washed by the water of the Word, I am strengthened with the Truth that God wants us to know that fear, worry and being anxious is not His plan for our lives. By reading the Bible every day, God wants us to have a daily reminder not to be afraid. Joyfully sing with Natalie: "We can be the change, be the hope, we can be the arms that don't let go. We can be a light in the dark." Matthew 5:14 tells us: "You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept." This song inspires us to live out the words, "Why sit around and wait for a miracle to come, when we can be one?"
Read the devo here.

9. "Walking Like Giants" by Stars Go Dim 
As the song declares, "Whatever may come, we're rising above. Through fire or rain, nothing's stopping us." We need to walk by faith, not by sight. What's awesome about this upbeat song is that it provides encouragement and personal motivation to fight the good fight of faith and finish running the race of life strong. The band has written another great anthem for the Church that reminds us that under our own strength, many mountains we face will seem impossible, but with God, all things are possible. The same goes for salvation. We can't earn Heaven, it's only through complete surrender to Jesus and putting all of our hope in Him that we can be saved. As Christians, we all can loudly proclaim: "We're not giving up when struggles come. There're not big enough. There's no stopping us, we're fearless inside. We're walking like giants!"
Read the devo here.

10. "Battles" by The Afters 
This song represents the victory that we have over our battles even before we know the earthly outcome by trusting that God is going before us and He wins. "Battles" is a profession of faith to Jesus, proclaiming "time after time You're my refuge, You heal every scar, You're guarding my heart. Your promise the hope that I cling to, my rescue, my friend, You come rushing in." What a great way to profess and thank the Lord directly by telling Him: "in my weakness You are strong, every trouble You have overcome." As believers in Christ we know our eternal outcomes and that we are going to live on forever. We can face our daily battles with more courage and strength because we know that whatever the outcome, based on His promise in Romans 8:28, "God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." You can sincerely pray these words along with Josh. God's love is never-ending, and He is our refuge and our strength. If you are looking for a Firm Foundation in your life, make these lyrics your personal prayer: "Your love is my armor, I fear no evil, darkness runs from Your light. So I won't be afraid, I won't be afraid!"
Read the devo here.