The Hidden Power of Hymns: 5 Reasons Your Family Should Sing Them Together
Why would anyone bother listening to or singing songs written hundreds of years ago let alone memorize them when a plethora of modern songs are produced each year? When it comes to contemporary worship songs versus older hymns of the faith, Is one type better than the other? After reading this blog, I hope you feel inspired to include some hymns to your music playlist that your family will enjoy and memorize.
How Many Songs Can You Sing By Heart?
You are in the car or taking a walk and you want to sing that catchy song you have on repeat. Can you sing the whole song by heart? Can you sing your top 10 favorite songs by heart?
I love how musicians continually pump out new songs so we can constantly listen to fresh new tunes. The downside is that we don't tend to have very many of these songs memorized. Maybe the chorus comes to mind, but not all the verses, so the songs don't stick with us long term.
You might ask, "Who needs to have the songs memorized when we have our cell phone attached to our hip and our air pods stuffed in our ears? We'll just tap our music app and sing along when we want to hear the song."
While this is a good point, there are times when we will want to comfort ourselves with the truths of these songs, and find we can't because the words are not seared into our soul through memorization.
Hymns are Easy to Memorize
This is where older hymns of the faith come in. They are rich in God's truth, yet simple enough to memorize when sung a few times. Then we can take these songs with us wherever we go. And so can our kids. We can take them into the doctors office, the MRI, the exam room, and the interview. We take them because the are within us. This is gold.
Singing hymns of the faith enable us to easily memorize God's truths and implant them in our heart, comforting and guiding us and our children when we need it most. So singing these songs is an important bridge to memorizing them. And it is worth the investment. Here's why.
“ Memorizing traditional hymns of the Christian faith as a family can have profound, long-lasting effects on both the spiritual and emotional growth of children.”
Here are five compelling reasons why families will want to make this a practice, and how it benefits children for decades to come:
Go Deeper: 5 Benefits of Memorizing Hymns
Roots Children in Biblical Truths
As Christian parents, we want to root our kids in the truths of our faith. Traditional hymns are rich with theology. By memorizing these hymns, children are not only learning beautiful melodies, but are also being rooted in the rich spiritual teachings of the Christian faith. These hymns carry centuries of Christian wisdom that can guide children throughout their lives, reminding them of God's faithfulness and truth.One bit of wisdom that has served me well is the chorus from the hymn, Trust and Obey. The chorus simply says "Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey." Boom. Simple but true. God calls us to be hearers and doers of his word. We can trust who He is so we can obey what he says. This life of faith and obedience leads to a life of blessing.
Nurtures a Deep Sense of Worship
Hymns are more than songs; they are declarations of worship and praise. When we and our children memorize and sing these hymns, we internalize expressions of reverence, gratitude, and awe toward God. This fosters a deep sense of worship that can sustain us through the highs and lows of life, creating a spiritual foundation that lasts a lifetime.One fun hymn to sing with kids is Praise Him! Praise Him! By Fanny Crosby. This fun, joyful and fast-paced tune fills the heart with delight in God. Consider the worship this second verse evokes:
“ Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus our blessed Redeemer
For our sins He suffered and bled and died.
He our Rock, our hope of eternal salvation,
Hail Him! Hail Him! Jesus the crucified.
Sound His praises! Jesus who bore our sorrows;
Love unbounded, wonderful deep and strong:
Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness;
Praise Him! Praise Him! Ever in joyful song!”
Remembering God's love is unbounded, deep, and strong will set a heart to praise!
3. Provides Comfort in Times of Trouble
As we all know and have experienced, life brings challenges. Having the words of beloved hymns stored in our hearts can offer immense comfort during difficult times. Hymns like “Amazing Grace” or “It Is Well With My Soul” can provide peace and reassurance in moments of sorrow or uncertainty. Memorization acts as a spiritual refuge, providing strength to draw upon for decades.
Countless times I have drawn on the hymn Great is Thy Faithfulness. In good times and bad, I remind myself that God is faithful no matter what is happening in the circumstances around me. God is the same today, yesterday, and forever, so I can trust Him to meet my needs of today as He has in the past. Singing this song has transformed my mindset countless times from worry to worship. It is one of my all time favorites and I'm so happy it is in my soul.
Worship as a family.
4. Builds a Shared Family Spiritual Practice
Why not learn and sing this songs as a family? Do you drive in the car or have a bedtime ritual? Memorizing hymns together as a family creates a shared spiritual bond. It encourages regular family devotions, singing, and worship, helping to cultivate a family culture that prioritizes faith. This sense of unity and shared purpose will have a long-lasting impact, creating memories that children carry with them well into adulthood.
One of my favorite memories is singing All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name with my kids. The version with music by James Ellor has a very fun chorus to sing. Check it out here.
While the second verse on this video is different from what we sang, this tune and the words were just fun to sing with my kids. The last verse reminds us that one day, we will join the everlasting song with all the people who have loved Jesus and gone before us into his presence "crowning him Lord of all." Such joy, Such hope! Puts a smile on my face even now as I write.
5. Instills Lasting Truths Through Music
Music makes remembering easy, etching truths into the memory. The doctrinal truths in hymns like “Holy, Holy, Holy” or “How Great Thou Art” shape worldview, fortify faith, and guide us all in making wise, faithful decisions for decades to come.
Modern Hymn Writers
Not all hymns are ancient. Many modern day hymn writers produce songs of rich theological truths that are easy to sing and memorize. Among my favorites are Aaron Keyes, Matt Redman, Stuart Townend, Keith & Kristyn Getty, Matt Boswell and Matt Papa, CityAlight and Sovereign Grace.
So why not give it a try? Pick a song you like and aim to memorize it as a family? You will equp your children with spiritual truths, a strong sense of worship, and the comfort of God's promises that will carry them through life. These hymns will continue to echo in their hearts long into adulthood, providing guidance, peace, and a deep, enduring connection to God.
Visit my website www.thecornerstoneproject.us to download my favorite hymn of the month and enjoy the benefits of implanting God's truths in your hearts.
Elizabeth Greene has invested over 25 years equipping families to pass the faith to the next generation and is the author of The Cornerstone Project, a Biblical worldview curriculum to help kids grow confident in the faith.
The Cornerstone Project mission is to equip families to build a strong Biblical foundation at home so children grow rooted in truth, confident in their faith, and ready to engage culture with the power of Christ.
Hi, I’m Elizabeth
A mom and Christian educator passionate about helping families build a biblical foundation that lasts. I created The Cornerstone Project to give parents tools to disciple their kids with confidence, truth, and grace. Here on the blog, I share encouragement, practical tips, and real-life stories to support you as you lead your family in faith.
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