There's a great book called The Love Languages and there's one about God and how we worship. Music falls into one of the languages and it's how I feel closer to God. I'm biased, but I don't think it can become too important. Didn't St. Augustine say that singing is like praying twice?

If  you think about it, music is a gift from God.  David used the medium of music to express his deepest desires, deepest pain, deepest remorse, and highest praise to the Lord.  All music is not directed to God and all music does not honor God, but if the intent of my heart is to worship Him and yield to Him in love , then I think it is appropriate to express it in music.  If you listen to music only superficially as a background (like elevator music) then maybe you are right in being concerned.  Being involved so that the music and lyrics become your thoughts, words, and prayers really is praying.  If we think that we need to think up flowery phrases and profound thoughts so that God will pay attention or be impressed, we are perhaps forgetting who we are. God knows our hearts and hears "between the lines".

Reading the Bible, walking through the woods, listening to good teaching,  listening to good music while not being equal in value to each other are still ways that we can experience the wonder of God's gifts to us and therefore appreciate Him all the more.

A lot of people are disagreeing with you, however I do see where you are coming from and can relate to your situation. What I suggest is that you "meditate" with music before you pray, and then turn it off and be done. It will set your mood for praying, however.. like you said, it should not replace praying.

My emotions, feelings and moods are so easily influenced by music -- this is a love and a curse. Sometimes I feel like it's easier just to listen to uplifting music when I have a problem, to escape the pain for a moment, but the truth is we need to take the problem  to God and treat it seriously.

Also, like you said.. people tend to get into habits. I think it greatly varies on the person, though I think we tend to be a like. Though listening to music can prepare our hearts for prayer, it's important to know that we can and should access God through prayer whenever we need to talk to him, have a problem, want to thank him, or have any other thing we want to do. We don't need to do something else before we try and talk to him.. he's always there, inbetween everything else in our hectic days.

Good thoughts.

Some time ago I wrote a blog about worshipping with both sides of the brain....and I think this may be an illustration. Some of us are more naturally emotional (right brained); others more analytical (left brained...if you believe this pop psychology).  I think that God takes us as we are..and then pushes us to grow beyond our natural likes and dislikes.

I personally would be skeptical about replacing prayer time or Bible study time with all music, (or with all visual images...I like to look at religious art myself). Music is emotionally based and requires little intellectual effort. Music can help recharge your emotional batteries and is good for relaxation or even for expressing emotion, but you need Bible study to really know what the Bible says..emotions can mislead you and you need to question what your emotions (even through Christian songs) are telling you.

You need the Bible study so that when someone asks you WHY you believe a certain doctrine, or if a cult challenges your belief system, you can give a reasoned defense of Christianity. Saying "it feels right" or "so-and-so sang a beautiful song about it" can be okay in some situations, but won't hold water with serious seekers who want to know more about Christianity (or who want to draw YOU away from Christianity.).

I do (this is personal opinion) think you need some mental/verbal prayer time, too. I think that prayer is very powerful, probably more powerful that we know, and needs to be given full attention at least from time to time. I know that people say that we can pray by singing or working, but I think that verbalising a prayer (mentally or even out loud) is powerful.  Prayer doesn't have to be a long, boring and drawn-out process, either, nor do you have to pray for everything at a long prayer during the day.

Just a few thoughts for you to consider.

Modern worship today is all about the worshiper.  Pop Christian culture and poor church leadership combined with a very ignorant church have caused this.  We've turned our churches into concerts halls and community centers as opposed to worship centers and houses of prayer.

The perfect example of correct worship (imho) is found in Isaiah 6.  Isaiah had a confrontation with God for real and was immediately aware of his sin, of his imperfection toward God.  It was entirely intimidating.  Even the seraphim were covering their faces and their feet while singing praise to God. 

Whenever we see the face of God for real, holy fear and awe should be overtaking us.  It is only after we are looking into God's face and put into a position of humility can worship truly be called that.  If not, there is something wrong and it is probably not worship.

This is probably coming off pretty strong.  While I don't apologize for that, I do say it with all humility.  There is a reason why the church in the States is in this terrible state; the state of worship is only a symptom.

Hello,

I am trying to find some Christian songs which talk about us seeing His face right now and I wanted to post those lyrics at the bottom of a recent article I wrote on 1 Cor. 13:10-12.

http://treeoflifeministries.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=149:mike-sullivan&catid=35:preterist-eschatology-all-prophecy-fulfilled-by-ad-70&Itemid=77

Please email me at:  healinglvs@aol.com if the Lord so leads you.  Thank you.

In Christ (2 Cor. 1:20),

Mike Sullivan

www.treeoflifeministries.info