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[sexyskinny1]

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[rhythmzofgrace]

Top 10 BLW songs of 2016:

Thought about this post a little while ago (along with a Christmas playlist, which clearly didn’t happen), so let me just do eeeet.

**Super-long post alert!**

We’re so tremendously blessed in the Believers’ LoveWorld Nation with amazingly gifted music ministers. Personally, I love words and I’m very grateful for songs that help me express my deepest affections to the Lord with beautiful words that I may never have come up with myself. Secondly, I’m just in awe of songwriters and until I become one myself (and even after that I’m sure) I’ll always celebrate them.

That said, quite a number of songs have blessed me very much this year (having to narrow it down to BLW because otherwise....). These ones especially have ravished my soul and i’ve absolutely loved singing my heart out to God. These are songs that helped me stand strong at various points throughout 2016; they communicated God’s Word, thoughts and love to me when I needed it most. Songs that encouraged me, strengthened me and sometimes just pleasured my musical soul.

SO. Here’s my Top 10 list of BLW songs of 2016:

10.) Let The World Know - Frank Edwards

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PCbI4ddfrk

Actually this song came out at the very end of the year. Like at the very end, so not exactly sure how I got to like it so much. But i couldn’t stop singing that very first line when I heard it:

“When it was me against the world, You came and You fought for me...”

Besides, we all know how prolificccccc Mr. Edwards is so....he’s the man. Go listen.

9.) Far and Wide - NKay & Gil

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZTITTdsbXM

SO it’s amazing to me that this is the only ‘gbedu’ (aka fast & upbeat) song on this list. I mean, I know I like slow, emosh songs and all but I quite like to dance too! Really surprising. Guess it was a year of lots of emotions, lol. Nkay and Gil are lit though. Check this out if you haven’t. The beat is just too good.

8.) I Live for You - Sinach

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXZRvU2Rtoo

My aunty, Sinach! As I like to call her. Nobody else like this woman. “Song writer of the decade”, indeed. No contest. I love all the words of this song. Like, every single word. Great confessions!

7.) No One Knows - Sinach

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeV7bHLnqLM

“No one knows, like I know what He’s done for me

That’s why I praise Him the way I dooo”

‘Nuff said.

6.) At The Center Of It All - Eben

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvAKYEuLLiA

Eben is one of our masters of worship music. He makes you focus on Jesus. Simple song. Powerful song.

5.) Stronger - Ada Ume

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2feSyjR3wI

So this song came out around the middle - 2nd half of the year, if I remember correctly; at a time where I was feeling particularly overwhelmed. Work / school was craaaazy busy - 18 hour days. I was missing church, not sleeping well, barely eating, had just moved houses so I felt like I was dropping things left, right, center. She starts with

“I got a new song for challenges...I got a new song for situations...I’m stronger than you...I’m bigger than you...”

Needless to say, I needed this song and I jumped on it. I played and sang it over and over again. That and the fact that her voice is so, so sultry. After a while, I had to tweet her to say ‘hunaaay, thank you for this song’

4.) Just Like Abraham - Jaiho

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWsaW1WYww4

First heard her minister this at the International Music Concert 2016 and was blown away by the lyrics of the song, the entire melody and her voice. One of those ones that just make you go 0_0. I stalked her page so much in anticipation of its release. It eventually came out on the last night of my ‘vacation’ from school as I was thinking about all the things that loomed ahead of me upon my return. Lol. But it’s a beautiful song. It said:

“I made the way...I made the way for you to never wander...Just like Abraham.

I shine the light so bright for you....your gates will never be broken...Just like David’s day” <3

3.) God All By Yourself - Eben

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BRlkVm9mcY

Mannnnn. From the first words of Eben’s raspy “Mighty God!....” -- I mean, from start to finish, this song is lit. I also just love the imagery that the phrase “ God all by yourself” projects. Power. Might. No shaking. He doesn’t need nobody or nothing to make Him who He is. That’s God.

2.) God Speaks* - EliJ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDftWgBoP6Q

Ok. This is a steal. * I actually don’t think this song came out this year but it played such a significant part in my year that I just had to include it. I only really listened to it this year though, so hey! As the title says, God speaks; reminding you who He is and exactly what He’s come to do in you. It’s like a love song with the Lord professing His undying love and commitment to you.

1.) Only You Jesus - ADA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKLFRynNtGo

Ada. Ada. Jesus. Ada. I’ll not talk about my special love for her in this post. Lol. I’ll just talk about this song. I learnt only recently that this actually a remake of a popular Nigerian (African?) church chorus. I didn’t know that but it makes sense. This song was literally my chorus this year. Every time I would wake up and /or have a thought about some situation that I needed to change, this was the go-to song in my spirit. Every time I thought about the things God has done for me and in me - this was the song. It was just always there. There are  versions to the song. The original and a live version that she does with a live choir / band which is really the only one I play, lol. My favorite, favorite, favorite part of the song is just one part of the live version, the very beginning,

“I have confidence in You, Jesus

I have confidence in You, any time and any day.”

Something about this confession that just always stirred me up. It reminds me where my strength, ability and confidence is. I think this will always be my song.

Till next year, lets see which songs (including my own original ones) ginger my heart. Meanwhile, Rozay’s “I flourish” is already on the beat!

~

#SweetPsalmistOfZion