As a Christian in today's world, I find a lot of comfort in music. Music on radio stations like K-Love and Reach Radio has brought me closer to the faith I once strayed from. When I first started listening to modern Christian music, something changed in me, the songs in this list spoke to me and I feel that if you are Christian and haven't listened to them, you should give them a quick listen.

1. Just Be Held by Casting Crowns

Lyrics: "Hold it all together everybody needs you strong / when life hits you out of nowhere and barely leaves you holding on"

This song is about God singing to you in a time when you are in the storm -- He is telling you that He is there and you can't look into the storm for him, look to the cross instead. This song seems to come on whenever I need it most. It has spoken to me on a spiritual level that is hard for me to explain. I used to ask, "how could a song know I needed it?" -- the answer was simple; it wasn't the song that knew what I needed it was God. This song gives me so much strength and I sing it to myself on days where I know I could use some extra strength. The first few lines of the song are the best for me, they remind me that even if I feel weak and helpless, there are people depending on me (like my little brother) to stay strong.

2. Call it Grace by Unspoken

Lyrics: "It's a strong and mighty fortress / Even Hell can't stand against"

This song is talking about grace and everything that grace does. It personifies the grace of our Father. Grace is nothing to be ashamed of and the grace of God is "unchanging and unfailing." This song really inspires me to spread the story of God's grace and I hope it does the same for you. I hope it at least reminds you that God's grace is with you and it can make you stronger because his grace will keep Hell out of life. This song definitely reminds me that I can do all things in the name of grace.

3. Good Good Father by Chris Tomlin

Lyrics: "Cause you know just what we need / Before we say a word"

These lyrics come from Matthew 6:8 and they are true. Our Father knows exactly what we need before we pray to him. He knows you better than you know yourself. This song reminds me that the Father is good and he loves us. Chris Tomlin sings about how perfect God is in all of His ways, and how His love is undeniable. This undeniable love leaves people speechless -- as I have seen it. Thinking about His love brings me to tears because I know that He is loving me even though I was born into sin and sin everyday. That love is undeniable and it brings me joy to know that He loves me.

4. Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) by Hillsong United

Lyrics: "Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me / You've never failed and You won't start now"

The melody to this song is just beautiful. The message makes it even more beautiful. The song speaks about trusting God because he will never fail you. God let Jesus walk on water and didn't fail him in front of his followers. Therefore, God will not let you down no matter what -- He hasn't failed and He won't start now. Don't let the "deep waters" and hard times that are surrounding you be the end. Seek for the hand of God and He will lead you out and He will never fail you. Knowing that God will not fail me helps me to get through any problem that I face in life.

5. Amazing Grace / My Chains Are Gone by Chris Tomlin

Lyrics: "My chains are gone / I've been set free / My God, my Savior has ransomed me"

This song takes the traditional Amazing Grace and makes it modern. Chris Tomlin speaks of how he was asked to write another verse to Amazing Grace and he thought it would be impossible. I feel like he did a great job at expanding this traditional hymn to express today's society. We no longer have to worry about where we are going, we are not chained to this world, God will be ours forever and He will take us to the promised land as long as we believe in him.

6. Blessings by Laura Story

Lyrics: "What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise"

This song speaks to me in a way that is hard for me to even describe -- this is one of those songs that just seems to play when I need it the most. People claim that God isn't real because of all these bad things that keep happening to them and the world; this song explains why we can't say things like that. The lyrics above prove that God works in mysterious ways. All these trials that we are going through are really just His mercies in disguise. No one person can know what God's plan for him is -- God knows what we need, and will give us what we need. He will give us what we need even if we don't realize that is exactly what we need. God knows what He's doing and He will send you blessings in disguise.

7. Diamonds by Hawk Nelson

Lyrics: "Oh the joy of the Lord / It will be my strength / When the pressure is on / He's making diamonds"

This message to this song is that God is making a Diamond out of everyone. He wants everyone to shine without being afraid to do so. God is also making diamonds in mysterious ways -- including by putting pressure on you. It relieves me to know that even when I feel like I am under way too much pressure, God is trying to make a diamond out of me.

8. Broken Hallelujah by The Afters

Lyrics: " With nothing left to hold onto, / I raise these empty hands to you. / Here's my broken, here's my broken, Hallelujah"

This is another song that just happens to play when I need it the most. We as Christians don't always have much to give to the Lord, so we will raise our empty hands and give Him our Broken Hallelujahs. This song also talks about how we as Christians might not always know what to say in prayer when we are in certain situations, but God can hear our heart and will make beauty from the ashes that are our lives -- even when we don't realize what His plan is. God knows everything that is happening in your life because He has been there before you were even born. It is so comforting to know that God will help you even when you have nothing to offer Him other than your faith and trust in Him.

9. Open Up The Heavens by Meredith Andrews

Lyrics: "You're the reason we're here / You're the reason we're singing"

This song is really uplifting in my opinion. The beat and everything to this song just gives it such an uplifting and hopeful feeling to it. If it weren't for God creating us we would not be here, He needs to be the reason why we are singing. This song is singing to God about opening up the heavens so that we can see Him in all of his glory. We want HIm to show us the mighty river flowing from the floodgates so that it can fill our praise. This song is such a fun song to listen to and sing to, and it has a powerful message too.

10. Tell Your Heart to Beat Again by Danny Gokey

Lyrics: "Say goodbye to where you've been / And tell your heart to beat again"

This song has an amazing message about letting go of the past. Just let go of every scar, every heartbreak, and just tell your heart to beat again. Danny Gokey captures something that a lot of people have troubles doing and he just makes it seem easy. Everyone has something that they are having trouble letting go and I feel like with this song, anybody would be able to find a way to let go of their past and move on. This song has helped me to let go of some things that I thought would always way down on me.

11. God's Not Dead by Newsboys

Lyrics: "My God's not dead / He's surely alive / He's living on the inside"

This song is a way for Christians to express their belief that God is NOT dead, that He is alive. In today's society, it may be hard for you to admit that God is alive to your friends because you may think that you will be laughed at. Honestly, who cares? There are plenty of Christians in this world and you might be hanging out with the wrong people if your friends are making fun of you for believing that God is alive. Just remember: God's not dead, and He will always be there when you need Him. He knows exactly what you need before you even ask Him. God is there.