Over the past month, I've been listening to a 300+ 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 over the past 10 years. 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 from Christmas: The Peace Project (Deluxe) 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.
2. "Light of the World" by Lauren Daigle
"Light of the World" is found on Lauren's album Behold: A Christmas Collection (Deluxe). 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, and instead focuses in on the ultimate gift of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The ultimate 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 and one another as described in John's epistle. Jesus wants to give you Himself this Christmas and share in His light of life, and not walk in darkness. 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.
3. "Human for Me" by Katy Kinard
I love the prayerful tone of this song from God of Fireflies. 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.
4. "Just a Girl" by Brandon Heath
I really like the opening lyrics of "Just a Girl" by Brandon Heath from his album, Christmas is Here: "I wonder if you've heard the story?" That invites me in as a listener and makes me want to hear the story. Brandon has long been one of my favorite singer-songwriters with his brand of storytelling. As Brandon takes me on the journey of this great new song, he makes me think about what I would do if I were the innkeeper. All we know about the innkeeper from the Bible is that there was no room in the inn. God includes those types of details in His Word as a lesson to us. I think God wants us to examine His Word and think about who we are in the story and what we would do in these circumstances. I've never empathized with the innkeeper before, however. Yet, many of us do what he did, and say we have "no room" for someone. In our busy society, many of us may miss God's blessings in our lives by turning away chances to live life with people. Biblically, we know that God calls us to look out for the "least of these." During this holy season, if we see someone who is hurting or needs comfort, it is our calling as Christ followers to show love. If we are aware of suffering in the world, we need to make an effort to reach out and help. This Christmas, we can all think about what God's purpose is for our lives, and find room in our schedules to make time for what really matters. That's how our King and Savior Jesus would like us to celebrate His birth.
5. "Emmanuel" by Hannah Kerr
I love the reflective and reverent feel of this song from Christmas Eve in Bethlehem. 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."
6. "Behold the Savior" by Meredith Andrews
"Behold the Savior" is on Meredith's album Receive Our 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." I feel like I can count on one hand how many Christmas songs include the name Jesus in the lyrics. That's a big deal. 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. Our reaction should be the same as John the Baptist. 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. Jesus is the only name by which we are saved. Mary gave Him that name as she was instructed by God. This Christmas, let's all worship and adore our Savior, and lift high His holy name, joining in with the angels and saints, crying out with a loud voice: "He will bear our weight / He will wear our shame / Come lift Him high / Behold the Savior!"
7. "On A Night Like This" by Sarah Hart
Sarah Hart is an incredible songwriter ("Better than a Hallelujah" by Amy Grant) whose lyrics immediately connect with me. I was thrilled to learn that she had recorded her own songs for her Christmas album called This Winter's Eve. Sarah's singing voice reminds me of Leigh Nash and I hang on every word of these catchy and original Christmas songs. "On A Night Like This" is my favorite song on the album. It has a banjo intro and super-hooky melody and I love the prayerful tone of the song. The chorus comes right from Luke's Gospel account of the skies opening and the angels singing "Gloria." Throughout the song, Sarah acknowledges the true wonder of Christ's incarnation as she reflects "Jesus, come and be born in the heart of me, and let me be your manger, let us be your manger." Amen to that! The album is loaded with that type of profound response to this most blessed season.
8. "Baby Boy" by for KING & COUNTRY
You can find "Baby Boy" on For KING & COUNTRY's Christmas EP Into the Silent Night. 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. What's amazing is that because of how humbly Jesus came to earth, people didn't recognize Him. As the song says, "See the King is coming down / and He's here without a crown / the baby boy without a bed / giving life back to the dead." We should never forget that Jesus was born in a stable, probably a cave, with animals, and his parents were running for their lives. There are still billions of people on earth that don't know Jesus as their King. One day He will rule the new heavens and the new earth, and every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that He is Lord. 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 out loudly, "Alleluia / we can sing it / Alleluia / Heaven's ringing / Alleluia / Endless hope, relentless joy / Started with a baby boy."
9. "Heaven Everywhere" by Francesca Battistelli
Francesca Battistelli's Christmas album, Christmas, contains the original Christmas song "Heaven Everywhere." This song has a great devotional message. Is there something special that you do at Christmastime that you could do throughout the year? Are you showing unconditional love to someone at Christmas that you could show another time of the year? As the song's lyrics declare: "It's funny how it takes a holiday, To show us how the world could truly change, If we all took the time to really care, There'd be a little more of heaven everywhere."
10. "What A Glorious Night" by Sidewalk Prophets
The exciting NEEDTOBREATHE-style opener, "What a Glorious Night" by Sidewalk Prophets from Merry Christmas to You opens with the classic reading of Luke 2:8-14 by Linus from the Charlie Brown Christmas special, closing with "That's what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown." The song is sung from the perspective of the lowly shepherds celebrating the Good News of Great Joy with hand claps and a super catchy melody. After one listen you'll be singing along loudly, "I hear the angels singing, Hallelujah, let the earth receive Her King, I know that Love has come, sing it out, Jesus Christ is born, Jesus Christ is born!" That is an incredible offering of praise to our King and Savior, Jesus. Yes, Sidewalk Prophets, "that's what Christmas is all about."
NRT Lead Contributor Kevin Davis is a longtime fan of Christian music, an avid music collector and credits the message of Christian music for leading him to Christ. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and three daughters.
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