When You Find Your Spirit Gospel Artist, You’ll Know
Before now, I've never been a fan of gospel artists or their music.
Pretty much because I'm never moved by their songs, worst is when they "speak in tongues".
You don't go to a studio and speak in tongues while recording a song. Do you know how many takes you have to make to get it right??
And you tell me, in all those takes, you were genuinely speaking in tongues???
You guessed right. I've got an opinion about speaking in tongues that you'll likely not agree with.
But let's save that for another Sunday.
This Sunday, for this piece, I'm writing about how I discovered the one gospel artist for me.
Like I said, I wasn't a fan of that art, hell, if you checked my phone years ago, you wouldn't find one gospel song.
And for me, it was a flex.
While everyone jumped on the latest gospel song, I looked stupid when I go to church and they were singing a song that wasn’t hymnal (I’m Catholic, remember) or ancient.
Then I discovered Mercy Chinwo.
She was one Nigerian Gospel artist who made me feel something when I heard her or sang her songs.
But that was short-lived.
Although I still listen to 'Akam di nelu’, one of her songs.
For a minute, I went back to not having any gospel artists, until…
Lauren Diangle.
It was actually on the Whatsapp status of a contact. The person had posted a video clip of 'You Say', one of her songs.
I still remember. It was at night, during the Covid break. I felt shattered by something (that, I don't remember) and unloved by my family (a very peculiar feeling years before now).
And there was just something soothing about the video, I think the words were written down, so I was able to easily grasp what the song was about.
I immediately reposted the video on my wall and went to Google to download it.
For days I kept listening to it and I found solace in the words. It felt like I was talking to God directly with words that weren't mine but conveyed personal messages.
That was my first Lauren Daigle's song.
Then years later, probably 2, I watched a Francine Rivers enacted book movie 'Redeeming Love'.
The first Christian movie I watched more than once.
The acting apart, which was brilliant btw, the closing theme song was….captivating.
I loved it, and it was perfect for the movie.
So when the rundown of casts, and production crew was going on, I waited till I could find the name of the song.
I waited not because I couldn't fast forward. I waited because I loved the song.
To my surprise, the song was sung by Lauren Daigle.
Title is 'Rescue'.
At that moment, I just knew I've found a gospel artist I can stan.
If you've listened to 'You Say' and 'Rescue', you'll know they're both a prayer.
While the first is more like an affirmation of what God sees in you (got to be personal with it), the latter is an assurance that God's got your back no matter what.
So I listened to both repeatedly for some time.
Until I dared to explore more into her art and OMG… I just knew.
I discovered songs like Valuable, Thank God I Do, I Am Yours and Remember.
I just knew.
Her songs are conversations. The things a weary heart would say to God and the things one can imagine God would say back in return.
They remind you of why you're serving God in the first place, of the miracles you may have forgotten in the cause of a storm, how God sees you, which is how you should see yourself, and give you reasons not to doubt.
She's a beautiful artist and I'm glad I got to discover her.
And honestly, I just want all Christians to discover her too.
Happy Sunday!
Listen to a Lauren Daigle's song today.
