The fact that through the Holy Spirit we can encounter Jesus is profound, and as we lead up to Easter, I noticed that many of my favorite worship songs are about stripping everything else away, and praying out loud for the presence of God, His Son Jesus and The Holy Spirit, and having a moving and meaningful encounter with Jesus. As the song "Give Me Jesus" sings, "You can have all this world, give me Jesus."

These songs all set me in the proper mindset to praise God for His amazing gift of salvation and for loving me so much that He gave His life away for all that was lost. The energy and power of these songs are amazing and they all bring me to the Throne Room in worship and submission to my King, Jesus. Here is my playlist of songs I call Encounter Jesus. You can view my entire list on Amazon here.

"Cornerstone" (Live) by Hillsong Live
For me, the stand-out song on this collection is the title track "Cornerstone." I can't get enough of this song and the extremely catchy and worshipful lyrics, "Christ alone, Cornerstone / Weak made strong, in the Savior's love / Through the storm, He is Lord / Lord of All." You'll be singing along at the top of your lungs the song and hopefully with your church congregation. 

"With Everything" by Hillsong United
This song is one of the most exciting worship songs ever, as it is very personal and extremely moving. "With Everything" has an incredible statement of faith: "Let Hope Rise, every eye will see Jesus our God, great and mighty to be praised."

"Soon" (Live) by Hillsong United
"Soon" was written and originally recorded by Brooke Fraser Ligertwood of Hillsong United, and covered by Adrienne Camp. In the past several years, Brooke's "Lead Me To The Cross," "Desert Song" and "Hosanna" have all ministered to me and I'm extremely moved by this soon to be classic song which is focused on praying for Jesus to come again, "soon and very soon."
 
"One Thing Remains" by Jesus Culture
"One Thing Remains" has become a staple for the church with the biblical chorus, "Your Love never fails, it never gives up, it never runs out on me." My favorite part of the song is the bridge: "In death, in life, I'm confident and covered by the power of Your great love, my debt is paid, there's nothing that can separate my heart from Your great love." Amen.

"Forever" (Live) by Kari Jobe
"Forever," co-written with Bethel Music's Brian and Jenn Johnson, has me pondering God's Majesty and eternity as the song boldly sings: "Now death where is your sting, our resurrected King has rendered you defeated, forever He is glorified, forever He is lifted high, forever He is risen, He is alive, He is alive!" The song is an emotive and poetic description of a beautiful picture of what Jesus did for us. The enemy is real and our best defense against his desire to destroy us is to cry out the victorious words of songs like "Forever" at the top of our lungs and know that our Redeemer has saved us from death, forever. We will be singing "Hallelujah, the Lamb has Overcome," forever. This song is a foretaste of that beautiful ending that we are all running towards as we finish the race set before us.

"When You Think of Me" (Live) by Misty Edwards
The album "Only A Shadow" by Misty Edwards includes a few moments that take my breath away with how vulnerable and sincere they get, especially "When You Think of Me." In many ways, this song has become my personal prayer to Jesus. What's amazing is that although many of us have such negative views of ourselves, our Heavenly Father, God, and our Advocate, Jesus, see us as blameless, and righteous because of what our sinless and spotless sacrifice Jesus did for us, dying on a Cross the death that we deserve, so that we could live with Him for eternity. I love the prayerful sentiment in this song, "When thoughts of me come to Your memory / Oh my story told / Let it be mercy." We know that God desires for us to "speak justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God" (Micah 5:8). That's the story of the believer, to know that God has blotted out your sin, and not only loves us so deeply that He sent His only begotten Son to die for us, He even likes us for who we are. He is our Maker, and He made us in His image and likeness. That Truth causes me to want to live for Him, and my desire for each of us is to run the race well, and for our Father to say to each of us, "well done, good and faithful servant." Amen.
 
"The Rock Won't Move" by Vertical Church Band
This entire album filled with songs proclaiming Jesus as our Rock and our foundation is a devotional challenge as left to our own devices, many of us would build on sinking sand. "The Rock Won't Move" is a song that reflects trusting completely in the Lord's grace for liberty from sin and self-reliance. I find myself singing along loudly with worship leader Kyle Fredericks: "The Rock won't move, no, the Rock won't move!" That's a wonderful Truth that all followers of Jesus can adopt as their anthem of faith. Our Firm Foundation, Christ the Solid Rock, is the only ground where we can stand that won't move or let us down. That's something worth singing about.

"Worthy, Worthy" by Vertical Church Band
"Worthy Worthy" features my favorite female worship leader Meredith Andrews. Meredith's mission is all about writing and singing songs that reflect what it means to have freedom in Christ. "Worthy Worthy" takes me to the day when we'll all be singing with the saints and the elders in Heaven, "Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, / Worthy, worthy is Your name / All of Heaven joins the universe ever crying worthy, worthy is Your name." During the vertical song, Meredith cries out: "Jesus, worthy, worthy is Your name... Jesus there's no other name by which we are saved, Jesus, Jesus, there's no higher name than Jesus, there's no greater name than Jesus!"

"Strong God" by Vertical Church Band
Everything we do and everything we have needs to come from the place of who we are in Jesus. There's safety and security in the knowledge of our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus. There's only one name under Heaven by which we can be saved: Jesus. This album proclaims that Truth in every single song. "Strong God" features my favorite female worship leader Meredith Andrews. The song proclaims the biblical Truth "There is no higher, no, / There is no greater, no, there is none stronger than our God!" I love singing out the lyrics: "Father to the fatherless, Defender of the weak, / Freedom for the prisoner, we sing / This is God in His holy place, this is God clothed in love and strength / Sing out, lift your voice and cry out / Awesome is our strong God, mighty is our God!" Amen!
 
"Great Are You Lord" (Live) by All Sons & Daughters
One of the new songs from the LIVE album is the standout song "Great Are You Lord," which has been speaking to me in my own personal devotional worship time. I look forward to also singing and praying the words of this song with fellow believers. Leslie and David have been writing and singing their breath, given to them by God, into anointed new songs for the church. You'll be blessed by this powerful song which is a stand-out anthem with a convicting declaration: "All the earth will shout Your praise / Our hearts will cry, these bones will sing / Great are You, Lord." We live in a fallen and sinful world. One day we will have a new heaven and a new earth and until then we need to all pray: "It's Your breath in our lungs / So we pour out our praise to You only." Amen to that!

"God I Look to You" by Bethel Music (Jenn Johnson)
"God I Look To You" features Jenn Johnson and has a classic Jesus Culture worship experience feel and will have you lifting your hands in worship to our King, as the bridge declares over and over "Hallelujah, Our God Reigns, Forever all my days, Hallelujah!" My best description of this incredible album is to remember the first time you attended a worship event that really made the hair stand up on your neck and if you want to re-live that experience, you need to get this song from Be Lifted High.

"I Can Feel You" by Bethel Music (Jenn Johnson)
I can't get enough of the stand-out song "I Can Feel You" by Jenn Johnson. Jenn's tender, emotive and powerful vocals take listeners on an emotional journey that gives me goose bumps every time I hear this song. The lyrics are very stirring: "In the chaos of the storm I had drifted far, far away, but I called out Your Name, and You were just a breath...a breath away / then through the shadows Your light appears, I know You're with me, but now it is clear / I can feel You, Jesus all around. Like sun on my skin, warm to the touch... I can feel You, Jesus all around." Jenn has quickly become one of my favorite female worship leaders, and you'll be belting out the bridge with her-- "There is nothing in this world that will satisfy my soul like You do!"
 
"Waiting Here For You" by Christy Nockels
I've been collecting every Passion worship collection since the albums began in 1998. From the beginning, the Passion movement has been rooted in the confession of Isaiah 26:8:"Yes Lord, walking in the way of Your truth we wait eagerly for You, for Your name and renown are the desire of our souls." "Waiting Here For You" gives me chills. You'll be mesmerized by the power and beauty of the lyrics and Christy's incredible vocals. I love how the song connects to the theme verse of Passion268, Isaiah 26:8. That's a daily decision to make and commit to God, to say "Yes, Lord, walking in the way of Your Truth we wait eagerly for You, for Your name and renown are the desire of our souls." Amen.