Every year, I interview today's Christian artists about their latest and greatest music. And every week, you get a behind-the-scenes--or in this case, Behind the Song--look at what inspired the artist to write that music. This year, I've written over 40 Behind the Song devotionals, and out of that, I've narrowed down the 10 best songs of the year. Hopefully, these selections can fill the gaps in your "favorites for 2025" playlist.
"Why Should I Worry (Remind Me Version)" by Carly Ann Taylor
"Why Should I Worry" is a biblical truth that all listeners can resonate with. The truth is that Christians are new people on the inside. The truth is that the Holy Spirit gives us new life. We don't have to live anymore with our guilt, fears, perfectionism, or worries. This song is a personal testimony to the power of walking out of the darkness and into God's marvelous light. Sing along and pray these words: "You calm the raging sea/My anxieties/'Cause that's just who You are/You make me whole again/Your love is constant/There's no end/You calm the raging sea/Inside of me/'Cause that's just who You are."
"I Believe You" by Megan Woods
God doesn't promise to spare us from pain, but we need to trust Him. We must trust Him and wait on Him. Wait for Him to orchestrate the plans for our lives. We have nothing to bring to God. Maybe we expect something in return, instead of recognizing that nothing compares to the greatness of knowing Jesus. Faith is when we are empty of ourselves and filled with Him and His Holy Spirit. Being a Christian means that we walk by faith, not by sight. Faith requires us to rely on the unseen. We all walk by faith every day. The beauty of walking by faith and not by sight is that we can learn to trust God more fully with our lives. For me, the most encouraging part of this song is the message that I don't have to be perfect, but that God knows me and loves me just as I am. That is cause for celebration, as we all have the freedom to be ourselves and know that He has great plans for us as His children. Sing along, "I believe You/When You say You're fighting for me/I believe You/When You tell me that my story/Isn't over just yet/I will rise up again/ I believe You."
"Desperate" by Jamie MacDonald
"Desperate" is a biblical truth that all listeners can resonate with. The truth that Christians are new people on the inside. The truth that the Holy Spirit gives us new life. We don't have to live anymore with our guilt, fears, perfectionism, or worries. This song is a personal testimony to the power of walking out of the darkness and into God's marvelous light. Sing along and pray these words: "Oh God, I'm desperate/Down on my knees/Send help from Heaven/Cuz that's what I need/Redeem this wreckage/Restore my peace/I'm not asking I'm begging/Lord come through for me."
"No Fear" by Jon Reddick
The theme of this song should be the heartbeat of every faithful Christian. This song's message is found throughout scripture and is totally relatable: "No fear, no fear/The mighty power of Jesus/Is fighting for me here/No fear, no fear/The light of the world/Makes the darkness disappear." This song represents the victory that we have over our battles before we even know the earthly outcome by trusting that God is going before us and He wins.
"When I Fall" by Katy Nichole
This song gives me hope and reminds me to not give up. I listen to it daily to remind me of how God feels about me. Katy's hope is to pass on the life-giving message of Jesus Christ. As Katy so powerfully urges in this song, "How long will I have to fight/Just for me to stay alive/I know You're there God please just meet me here tonight." Allow the Holy Spirit to "cast the light of life into your mortal bodies." If you are struggling with depression, please know with certainty these life-giving words: "My God I'm losing all the hope I got/I'm far beyond the point of being lost /I've tried but I can't let go/'Cause God You catch me when I fall."
"God Story" by Anne Wilson
All we need is faith, and God will show us what He has planned for us. He's the author of our lives and knows what's best for us, much better than we do. Be encouraged by the light of Jesus shining in all of us based on our faith in Him, and personally, I am moved to know that Jesus is shining in me for all to see and believe. Join Anne in praying these words: "From death to life, from blind to sight/This is my God story/From lost to found, from then to now/I'll tell you how, God story/Who brought me through from old to new/It's a true God story/Ain't hard to see the change in me/Could only be a God story."
"I've Just Seen Too Much" by Big Daddy Weave
Jesus commands us to trust God's Word completely, no matter the circumstances. God's Word assures us to trust what God says about us, no matter how we feel about ourselves. If you've put all your hope and trust in Jesus, nothing can separate you from His love. God sees us as He sees His Son. He makes something out of nothing in each of us. "I've Just Seen Too Much" is a stirring song. Pray along, "If you ask me why I trust Him when it feels like everything has come undone, all I can tell you is I've just seen too much...of His kindness, of His goodness, of His mercy that always follows me."
"Deeper Still" by Ben Fuller
Our own redemption stories all connect perfectly with this song. The "irrefutable argument" we have as believers is to share our story of grace. This song celebrates the day that we were saved from our sins and causes listeners to reflect on and celebrate their salvation experience. This song is about our Savior, Jesus, who overcame the grave. It's about submitting all of ourselves to Him and His goodness and allowing His blood to cover us and run through our veins. That's how we can "overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony." By stepping into the Lord's ability instead of relying on ourselves, we are empowered by the supernatural ability of God. This song has become my personal anthem, and I sing along at the top of my lungs the sincere and emotive lyrics of submission in the refrain: "Then I found Jesus/At the end of myself/Cause all I needed Was for my strength to run out/At my weakness He was waiting/To pick me where I fell His love goes deeper/Oh goes deeper still."
"Looking Up" by Sidewalk Prophets
Jesus died on the cross to set us free from the battle of our minds, from sin and death. And, He wants us to have an abundant life in Him. What a wonderful, encouraging truth. God knows us intimately. And, because of what Jesus did on the cross, He sees us as holy, righteous, redeemed, chosen, fully known, and forgiven, no matter what you've done. If you've put all your hope and trust in Jesus, there's nothing that can separate you from His love. This is one of my favorite songs of the year. Sing this song to God with all of your heart and know that: "Some things will make you start praying/Whether you believe in God or not/If you get low enough, you'll start looking up/If you get low enough."
"Here at the Table" by SAPHIRE
This song and Jesus' parable of the unforgiving servant display how much God wants us to dispose our hearts to forgive each other. This is not enough; we must seek the welfare even of those who offend us. The humbled sinner relies only on free abounding mercy through the ransom of the death of Christ. Let us seek more and more for the renewing grace of God, to teach us to forgive others as we hope for forgiveness from Him. As the hymn sings, "They'll know we are Christians by our love." The message behind "Here at the Table" is the story of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Although we are all guilty and deserve judgment, our sinless Savior's blood offers the chance to rewind to innocence, reborn, perfect as a child. This song is a powerful expression of what it means to accept that God never leaves or forsakes us as His followers. He is all we need. Join in with Saphire as she sings: "He who died for enemies/Made a way for you and me/To look across and finally see/That healing starts."
NRT lead contributor Kevin Davis is a long-time Christian music fan and an avid collector. He credits the message of Christian music for leading him to Christ.
NEW!BEHIND THE SONG
#1296 - Mary-Clair
A candid conversation about faith, vulnerability, and finding God
ADVERTISEMENT
NEW!MOVIE REVIEW Miracle
NRT reviews the new movie after attending the premiere
NEW!SERIES REVIEW
A Night At Wingfeather
We attended the show's premiere of the Angel Studios animated show
NEW!NRT LISTS
Worship Into 2026
Standout new worship releases that invite the Church to sing and reflect
NEW!THE CHH DROP
#261 - Gavin the Hotrod
What's new this week in Christian rap and hip-hop
