Over the past month, I've been listening to a 200+ song playlist of my favorite Christmas songs by Christian artists, both in preparing my heart for the true purpose of this most blessed season and to conduct and write Christmas Behind the Song devotionals.  

My favorite Christmas albums tend to have a balanced mix of original and traditional songs, such as Amy Grant's 1992 album Home for Christmas, which includes the classic original song "Breath of Heaven." After careful and repeated listens, these are my top 10 original Christmas songs recorded by Christian artists from 2017. I'd love to read your comments and discover some of your favorites of the season as well. From my family to yours, have a wonderful, God-filled holiday season!

1. "Prince of Heaven" by Hillsong Worship
This song is a great way to thank Jesus for our undeserved gift of grace. The gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ started at Christmas, and continues until we see Him face to face. To celebrate the gift of grace this Christmas and all year, remember and sing along: "We can know Him, this Prince of Peace, in light of mercy, confess our sin; lay our burdens at Jesus' feet." Whenever I'm tempted to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the commercial Christmas season, a song like this one can help me focus on the true meaning of Christmas, which is to stop and be in awe of Jesus, the Prince of Heaven.
Get it on iTunes here.

2."Human for Me" by Katy Kinard
I love the prayerful tone of this song. We should never forget that Jesus was born in a stable, probably a cave, with animals, and his parents were running for their lives. Truly, no other king in the history of the world besides Jesus humbled themselves to come off their throne to become one of their own and become the least... for me. Throughout the song, Katy acknowledges the true wonder of Christ's incarnation as she reflects "And I wonder why on this silent night, You withstood discomfort for me, chose to live and die in a harsher time, You refused to make it easy to be human for me." The song is loaded with that type of profound response to this most blessed season.
Get it on iTunes here.

3. "Immanuel" by Melanie Penn
This new Christmas song "Immanuel" perfectly captures the picture of Jesus being the Hope of the world. We have all been blessed by Jesus coming to earth as "God with us" and humbling Himself to be born as a baby and die for our sins. Melanie does a phenomenal job capturing that in the song. Don't miss the significance of Jesus our Lord's birth. Give Him reverence, celebrating His entire story, His birth, His crucifixion and most of all His resurrection! We can all pray along with this gorgeous song: "A rebel heart is all I have, but all I have I will bring, let us adore Him, Come, let us adore Him, Immanuel." 
Get it on iTunes here.

4."Emmanuel" by Hannah Kerr I love the reflective and reverent feel of this song. Every year we anticipate Christmas in my family by reading Scripture daily to prepare our hearts for the birth of Jesus. My wife and I spoke with our three daughters about God's prophesy in Isaiah 7:14, where God tells us exactly what is going to happen 700 years before the birth of His Son. One of my favorite Christmas hymns is "O Come, O Come Emmanuel," and this new song by Hannah Kerr captures that emotional anticipatory feel. You can sing this song in preparation this Christmas season, in remembrance of Jesus and God's promise: "He meets you where you are, He holds your heavy heart, our God is with us all, Emmanuel."
Get it on iTunes here.

5. "Behold the Savior" by Meredith Andrews
"Behold the Savior" is on Meredith's album Receive the King. The song includes the Lord's name being lifted up as Meredith belts out, "Jesus Christ / Law of love and light / Come lift Him high / behold the Savior." When you search for the phrase "behold the Lamb" in the Bible it is only found a few times. You can't use the word "behold" regarding our Savior without thinking about the reverence of who it is focused on. The word behold is beyond "hey look," but is more "see and worship" and "look and be amazed." It is a full sensory experience: look at Him, embrace Him, worship Him, revere Him. This Christmas, let's all worship and lift high Jesus's holy name: "He will bear our weight / He will wear our shame / Come lift Him high / Behold the Savior!"
Get it on iTunes here.

6. "Baby King" by Jason Gray 
I am moved every time I read the Gospel account in Luke of the angels singing "Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" This song perfectly captures that celebratory revering of Jesus. I think God wants us to examine His Word and think about who we are in the Bible story of the birth of Jesus and what we would do in those circumstances and remember: "don't be afraid, He came as a Baby King." In our busy society, many of us may miss God's blessings in our lives by turning away chances to live life with people. This song challenges me to have that childlike faith that we are called to have as believers, singing along "come see the Baby King... come as a child, we are all children on Christmas."
Get it on iTunes here.

7. "Christmas Everyday" by Unspoken 
This song has a great devotional message. Are you showing unconditional love to someone at Christmas that you could show that love to another time of the year? Biblically, we know that God calls us to look out for the "least of these." If we see someone who is hurting or needs comfort, it is our calling as Christ-followers to show love. This Christmas, we can all think about what God's purpose is for our lives, making time for what really matters. That's how our King and Savior Jesus would like us to celebrate His birth. Live out the words of the song: "All year we should remember how blessed we are, through the year we don't have to wait. Let the love in your heart be the gift you bring, put a smile on someone's face, now it's Christmas every day!"
Get it on iTunes here.

8. "O Children Come" by Keith & Kristyn Getty
The Good News of the Gospel, which this song by Keith and Kristyn Getty perfectly portrays, is that God accepts us no matter what we've done or what we are going through. This is a wonderful song of encouragement and prayer to ask God to break our pride, help us 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 lyrics of the song encompass the takeaway message: "Lay down all your bitterness, turn from sin's toil and distress, find His grace and perfect rest-- o children come!"
Get it on iTunes here.

9. "Noel (Light of the World)" by Shelly E. Johnson 
What I love about this original Christmas worship song is that it sets my mind on the Light of Christmas, Jesus. The message of the song strips away the commercialism and secular celebration of this most blessed season, focusing in on the ultimate gift of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The gift of Christmas is that "the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin." That's cause for true community amongst God's sons and daughters and true fellowship with Him, as described in John's epistle. Jesus wants to give you Himself this Christmas and share in His light of life. Now that Jesus has ascended to Heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father, He tells us in His Word that through the Holy Spirit living inside of us, that we are the light of the world, and a city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14). This song celebrates that amazing gift.
Get it on iTunes here.

10. "Fear Not" by Point of Grace

Do you get so caught up in the busyness of the Christmas season that you miss Him? This song by Point of Grace is great to reflect on during our Christmas time of worship as well as during the year when we spend time idolizing things that aren't God. What's amazing is that because of how humbly Jesus came to earth, people didn't recognize Him. The world is still crying out desperately for a Savior, and our job as followers of Jesus is to tell the world that He came, He lived a perfect, sinless life, He died for our sins, and He is risen! That's cause to celebrate and sing along: "Hallelujah, God is with us!"
Get it on iTunes here.