Music Top 10: My Most Listened to Worship Songs in 2023

I absolutely love Spotify’s yearly listening stats. It’s a fun mix of my favorite artists and styles, and there is always at least one song in my top 10 that I never would have predicted myself. I’d love to hear what songs were your top listens last year! I’m constantly listening to music – building playlists, creating setlists, or just for fun. Here’s my — Music Top 10: Worship Songs I Listened to Most in 2023! Leave yours in the comments! 

Listen to all mentioned songs on my spotify playlist 2023 Top Listened to Song Playlist.

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#10 Battle Belong by Phil Wickham

The last spot on my top 10 is usually a surprise, and this year was no different. While this song is fantastic and a great choice for many types of playlists, I don’t feel like I listened to it that much. It snuck in I guess. Battle Belongs is a strong and versatile song. I was introduced to this song years ago because I wanted to improve on my harmonization skills. This song is an excellent choice for themes dealing with faithfulness and trust, it also works in sets meant to have a broader declaration of God’s presence and power in our lives.

#9 Lion by Elevation

This will forever be the song I want to lead on Easter Sunday. That time hasn't come yet, but Lion is a song that stays with you! I can never listen to this song too many times, if anything, I am surprised it didn't rank higher. I’ve already said I want to use this as an Easter Sunday choice, but Lion is powerful and can easily tie into many themes surrounding how we should worship since we know that Jesus came, died, and rose again.

#8 Believe For It by CeCe Winans

I have had this song in my regular rotation of playlists since it's release in 2021, and it has been making my top 10 ever since. The first time I heard it was in a service targeting the power of prayer in relation to missions, within the church, locally, and globally. It was impactful because of how it was used, the topic it centered around. Believe For It can apply to so many parts of our faith. I know I am sometimes guilty of forgetting that prayer and faith are always incredibly important for things we may never see, and that includes missions. From here on, you might begin to see a theme in my top 10.

#7 Enter the Gates by Bryan & Katie Torwalt

I love this song! I was introduced to it in the fall of 2022.I hoped to lead it on a Sunday morning, but someone else did it instead, only slightly bitter. . . totally joking, not at all! I will use Enter the Gates someday though, this song became important after going through a spiritual storm. It reminded me that singing, worship arts ministry, all of it, was and still is my passion. I found peace and strength in that acceptance. I'm sure of the path I was meant to be on and while it’s still and will always be a matter of patience and growth I can sing that song with confidence. 

#6 Intercede by Amanda Danziger 

This song is beautifully unique. The instrumentals of Intercede are simple but give it a darker pensive tone. The song is an intimate and introspective. It speaks to restless and troubled minds. It’s a song that will not likely ever go beyond my own personal worship time. My passionate music worship people, never doubt the power of worshiping on your own, whether that be in the car, while you are cooking dinner, or cleaning the house. If musical worship is your passion, find time to do so on your own, for your own growth in your walk with God. I would challenge you in this new year to find a few songs that are just for you and God. 

#5 Worthy of it All by CeCe Winans

This is one of my favorite declarative songs. Sometimes the simplest songs can stir hearts the most. With only 3 repeating sections it keeps the message simple, it’s repetitive, but those are words worth repeating. Worthy of it All has a wide range of uses, and topics it can be in with; it’s also versatile, it can fit nicely anywhere in a service. I’ve seen it used as a first song, an in-between bridge from one worship topic to another, and as a closing song. It’s not a difficult song to learn either, so it’s excellent as a congregational song.  

#4 Echo By Elevation & Tauren Wells

From here til the end, you may begin to notice a pattern, but is music not a reflection of our emotions and experiences?  This song has such fun energy to it! It tackles a difficult topic, but in an energetic, move your body, kind of way. I appreciate it as a song to pull me out of a low moment. Its message and tone are almost opposites, but that’s why it works so well. Sometimes we need those slow melodic emotional songs when life becomes overwhelming, but sometimes we need to remember to have joy, celebrate that God won’t give up on you.

#3 God is in this Story by Katy Nichole

I found this song kinda by accident. . . It’s a great song and honestly, it meshes well with a lot of the other songs in this list. You might be noticing a pattern in the theme of my listening choices last year. I found God is in This Story because I heard someone lead a different song by the same artist. After listening to it, this song came on next and I liked it so I threw it into my playlist.  Honestly with where it ranked on my list , I ended up listening to this one more than the one I looked at first… but In Jesus Name (God of Possible) is another incredible song by Katy Nichole, even if it didn't make it onto this list.

#2 Faithful God by Gateway Worship

This is another song that I was not surprised to see at the top of my list, and it was super close to my top listen. In the case of this one though, it was a mixture of learning it for a Sunday morning, but also being a song I clung to during what was a huge time of change and uncertainty. I reached a moment of frustration and confusion. I thought I knew what I was supposed to be doing, and I was trying to follow God’s tug on my heart to grow in my passion for worship. Instead, I had a big disappointment that left me asking God why? What was the point of the effort and dedication and passion for it all to just end, without ever being fruitful. This song was a place to turn on days when I felt discouraged and sometimes hopeless. It was a song I turned on when I was alone and overwhelmed with anxiety. It’s a song that speaks when words fail. Don't be afraid of the emotional songs, they can make such an impact in your walk, God wants you to know He is with you, that He is a Faithful God.

And Finally. . .  #1 With You by Elevation

I am not the least bit surprised that this was my most listened to song of the year. It's a song that I found in the fall of 2022 and it resonated with me in a time when there was a lot happening, there were a lot of changes and the beginning of my life turning closer to ministry. This song spoke into my anxious heart. With You reminded me that sometimes the best place to be is simply with God, in his presence, with the peace He provides. It was a song I knew would play a role in my ministry some day and even though I have not led it yet, I will always share this song with others. I pray that in your times of uncertainty and anxiety you find moments to pause in His presence, let that be all you need in the moments of chaos.

Were any of these in your top 10? Let me know in the comments! Or jump over to my 2023 Top 10 Playlist on Spotify to listen to the songs mentioned, and check out some of the other playlists for Most Popular Releases of 2023 as well as Most Listened to Songs of 2023. 

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Ministry of Joy: A Worship Arts Ministry Blog