Casting Crowns Songs & Lyrics: My Top 10 Picks

Casting Crowns is a contemporary soft rock Christian band. The band was created in 1999 by a youth pastor named of Mark Hall, who is one of the lead vocalists. They started out in Daytona Beach, Florida but eventually moved to McDonough, Georgia. They added more band members while in Florida, and were eventually discovered by contemporary Christian artist Steven Curtis Chapman in 2003 and catapulted into the spotlight. Casting Crowns has won many awards, including Grammy and Dove awards, and has recorded nine Billboard chart topping albums.

I love to listen to Christian music and appreciate a good singing voice and talented instrumentalists, but overall it is the song lyrics that move me. The lyrics speak to me in a personal way and move me into a deeper place of worship. My top 10 favorite songs and lyrics by Casting Crowns are:

Song Choice #1 Voice of Truth from CD Hearts on Fire

Lyrics: "...But the voice of truth tells me a different story, The voice of truth says, 'Do not be afraid!', The voice of truth says, 'This is for My glory', Out of all the voices calling out to me, I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth ..."

This song reminds me that even though we may not have support from anyone around us, God is still there. It makes me think of having the devil on one should and an angel on the other shoulder, each one shouting different things in my ear, but if I listen closely enough I will hear the voice of truth. The voice of truth is the Holy Spirit that lives inside of me and it's up to me to choose to listen to the truth and be strong in the face of troubling or confusing times. Every time I start to get afraid of something happening in my life, I play this song and try to remember to always listen to the voice of truth!

Song Choice #2 Here I Go Again from CD Hearts on Fire

Lyrics: "...Lord, You love him so, You gave Your only Son, If he will just believe; he will never die, But how then will he know what he has never heard, Lord he has never seen mirrored in my life, This might be my last chance to tell him, That You love him..."

The lyrics to this song are so powerful and the words hit me hard the first time I heard them. I was driving down the road and had to pull over to the side of the road because I was moved to tears. I don't know about the rest of you, but I have friends and even family members who haven't turned their lives over to God. I worry about them and try to be a good witness of God's love, but when it comes right down to talking to them about salvation something holds me back. I'm not ashamed of God, they know I'm a Christian, but I don't want to be too pushy with them. So I skirt around the real issue and end up talking about silly meaningless things, taking a chance that I'll have another opportunity "someday" to talk to them about Jesus.

Song Choice #3 Who Am I from self titled CD Casting Crowns

Lyrics: "...Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth, Would care to know my name, Would care to feel my hurt ..." "...Not because of who I am, But because of what You've done, Not because of what I've done, But because of who You are ..."

Another powerful message reminding me that God doesn't love me because of anything special that I have done. He loves me because He is my creator and I am His child. He loves me because He sees the blood of Jesus covering my sins when He looks at me. It's not because of anything I have done; it's all because of Him!

Song Choice #4If We Are The Body from self titled CD Casting Crowns

Lyrics "...if we are the body, why aren't His arms reaching, why aren't His hands healing, why aren't His words teaching, and if we are the body, why aren't His feet going, why is his love not showing them there is a way ..."

This song should strike a cord in the heart of every person who claims the name of Christ. Every believer makes up the church, which is the body of God here on this Earth. It's our responsibility to reach out to mankind and teach them about God's love for them, to show them how to come to know God for themselves. If we, the body, don't do it then who will?

Song Choice #5Praise You In This Storm from CD Lifesong

Lyrics "... I'll praise You in this storm, And I will life my hands, For You are who You are, No matter where I am, Every tear I've cried, You hold in Your hand, You never left my side, And though my heart is torn, I will praise You in this storm ..."

This song is hard for me to listen to because when I am going through a low spot in my life the last thing I want to do it praise God. I want to have a pity party for myself and want to be angry at God, even though the things I'm going through are not God's fault. So even though I don't always want to, this song helps me remember that I should praise God in spite of what is going on in my life because He is in control and will bring me through whatever problem I'm facing.

Song Choice #6Father, Spirit, Jesus from CD Lifesong

Lyrics "...Rescued from darkness, We are walking in marvelous light, For we are children of the King ..."

These uplifting lyrics remind me of how every Christian is a child of the most High King and that He is worthy of our praise and worship. He has rescued us from the darkness of evil and brought us into the light of His love.

Song Choice #7Does Anybody Hear Her from CD Lifesong

Lyrics "...If judgement looms under every steeple, If lofty glances from lofty people, Who can't see past her scarlet letter, And we never even met her ..."

There are churches on every corner in most cities but not many of the people inside those churches don't take time to reach out to folks they pass every day ... folks who most need to feel the love of God. They see a hooker on the corner and look right past her and pass judgment instead of trying to show her that God loves her. They see a homeless person and hurry past them instead of trying to help. I'm not saying I'm a saint and always stop to help people ... this is just what the song convicts me about.

Song Choice #8Love Them Like Jesus from CD Lifesong

Lyrics "...Love them like Jesus, You don't need the answers, To all of life's questions, Just know that He loves them, Stay by their side ..."

We all go through hard times and sometimes there is nothing we can do or say to take the hurt and pain away. So this song reminds me that there are times when all we can do is love others the way Jesus loves them, then pray for one another and remember that God is in control. We have to let God's love shine through us and then give the situation over to Him.

Song Choice #9East To West from CD The Altar And The Door

Lyrics "...I know You've cast my sin as far as the east is from the west, And I stand before You now as though I've never sinned, But today I feel like I'm just one mistake away from You leaving me this way, Jesus, can You show me just how far the east is from the west ..."

The Bible tells us Psalms 103:12 that when God forgives us of our sin that he has moved them as far as the east is from the west and remembers our sins no more. The nail scarred hands of Jesus represent the forgiveness of my sins. But too many times I let my mind wander to my past and I get bogged down and feel worthless. This song reminds me that God has cast my sin out of His mind and that I should do the same. If He doesn't remember my sins then why should I continue to beat myself up over past sins that He no longer holds against me? What a merciful loving God we have!!!

Song Choice #10The Altar And The Door from CD The Altar And The Door

Lyrics "...I cry, like so many times before, But my eyes are dry before I leave the floor, oh Lord, I try but this time, Jesus, how can I be sure I will not lose my follow through, Between the altar and the door ..."

I don't know about you, but I have such good intentions when I kneel at the altar in church, or when I'm down on my knees at home deep in prayer. I sincerely mean every word I pray, every thought and every tear is heartfelt. Then I step outside back into the world and it's so easy to slide right back into the routine of every day living. It's so easy to put God on a shelf until I need Him again. This song reminds me that I need to strive harder to keep God front and center.

Conclusion:
If you've never listened to this phenomenal Christian band, Casting Crowns, I urge you do so as soon as you can. Not only are their singing voices and instrumentals magnificent, but the lyrics to their songs will reach out and grab your heart.

Sources:
www.allthelyrics.com
wikipedia