Early on in my pregnancy I realized that every time I sang to God I was given a gift. While praising God I was at the same time singing over Gabe. Gabe heard every word I sang out. Same for when we would meet for prayer before church. Every word I spoke was spoken over him. Two things I pray he learns from an early age that are an integral part of our faith that he can do at any time.

A few months later I went to a one day women’s conference that had guest worship by Sherri Youngward. I was very familiar with Sherri’s music and was delighted to have her lead worship. During one of her sets she did a song from one of her Scripture Songs albums. The songs off those albums are word for word scripture set to music. While I was singing I again thought back to how I was singing over Gabe but that this time I was actually singing the Word of God over him. How awesome is that!? I knew instantly that these were the kind of songs I wanted to sing to Gabe when he was born. I haven’t ever really been a fan of lullabies… many of them seem to have something to do with death and I’m not cool with using those to sing my baby to sleep. Though I admit my frame of reference is quite small and I could easily rectify the situation with the help of Google and YouTube. But I digress. What better than to give Gabe a foundation of the Word of God from the very beginning. So I bought Scripture Songs Vol. 1 & 2.

During the newborn stage there wasn’t much music needed. He was more interested in sleeping and growing at the time. But slowly as he started needing to be soothed we would play Scripture Songs Vol 1. Soon the songs became familiar and started calming him to sleep. Now we use music as one of the cues for nap/bed time rotating between Scripture Songs Vol. 1 & 2 and more recently adding in Absolution by Josh White (not a scripture song type album.)

Little did I know the impact of listening to these songs over and over. I did it for Gabe but it ended up greatly impacting me. How could it not, right? The first two months of Gabe’s life were hard. Really hard. Everything was turned upside down dealing with physical recovery, exhaustion from the sleep deprivation, struggles Gabe was having, and an emotional roller coaster that I had never been on before. These songs became my life line.

Even though we are are out of the initial hard season of the newborn stage of life, these songs, God’s word, are still speaking and challenging me. It’s a reminder to me of just how much God’s word is living and sharper than any two edged sword (Hebrews 4:12.) The truths that are speaking to my heart are the same truths I want Gabe to grab hold of. I want him to know that God is his refuge and his strength. That when he is overwhelmed he can go to the rock that is higher. That He will grant the desires of his heart. So on and so on.

As I navigate the challenges of life, I can cry out as David did knowing that not matter what I am feeling or facing, He is there and He understands more than I could ever imagine.

Only He can be our sweet peace.

Oh Jesus, meet me in this dark unknown
I’m falling apart don’t leave me alone
Lord I believe, help my unbelief

Oh Jesus, I’m so afraid of what I can’t see
Be my peace, come and strengthen me
To know your love, yes to know your love for me

Oh draw me into Your grace
Turn me out, set me ablaze
That all may see Your face in me
And when I’m finally released
From this life you have given me
May I leave behind your sweet, sweet peace

Oh Jesus, give me courage to confront this day
To see these intersections of grace
Spirit come over me and fill this place

Your victory is all I need
your victory is all I need
your victory is all I need to be

Oh Jesus, give me rest in my unrest
I love you Lord, but I confess
Some times I may sink
But You were there to rescue me

• Sweet Peace by Josh White