Time flies!  It has been six months since we have compiled our last Favorite Top 15 Worship Songs.  From July until December this year, we have received and have reviewed hundreds of worship albums.  Thus, in an effort to help those leading worship resource new songs, we have decided to narrow down our Top 15 Songs again.  For a song to qualify, it needs to satisfy three criterion: first, it needs to be released any time between July to December this year.  Second, it needs to be a song written with corporate worship in mind.  This excludes songs that address human relationships and songs that are more testimonial in nature.  Third, only songs that have been submitted to BreatheCast were considered for this list.  We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all publicists, recording companies, artists and management groups for the privilege of reviewing your albums over the last six months. So, here goes:

15. Matt Redman "Your Grace Finds Me" from Matt Redman's "Your Grace Finds Me"

Redman shows us why he's a veteran when it comes to crafting worship songs.  Never one to write in the abstract, Redman allows us to see God's grace in action through a litany of human activities.  Whether it's in the tossing of confetti n a wedding or the silent weeping by the graveside or the endless rejoicing of the birth of a newborn, God always takes the initiative to find us with his grace.  Though grace is everywhere, it's Redman who helps us realize its presence in both the mundane and the majestic.

14. Tamela Mann "I Can Only Imagine" from Tamela Mann's "Best Days (Deluxe)"

We love this world --- its cheap thrills and its temporary gadgets --- so much that our hearts are too full for Christ.  This is why worship becomes a chore; giving to the poor becomes an exercise for the others; and church becomes secondary to our Sunday morning sleep.  Such a love for the world can only be expelled by a greater love --- a greater love of being with Christ.  Worship leaders would do well to sing about the glory of being with Christ through this powerhouse ballad.  MercyMe, Wynonna Judd, Jeff Carson and many have tackled this tune before, but it's Tamela Mann who invests her Gospel soul into it that takes us right to God's throne.

13. Hillsong Young and Free "Alive" from Hillsong Young and Free's "We Are Young and Free"

All the Justins and the Adeles can move aside.  One of the hottest young worship team from the Australian mega-church Hillsong has arguably the catchiest song of the year.  Yet, unlike many of their secular counterparts, "Alive" is not fluff at all.  With a galvanising dance beat and a hooky chorus, 'Alive" speaks of Christ's redemption wrapped with teen credit.  "Alive" is equivalent to Jesus Christ spoken of in the twitter language of hashtags, @, MT, TBH and RT.

12. Dustin Smith's "Rushing Waters" from Dustin Smith's "Rushing Waters"

Many worship songs use love poems, the psalms or the words of Jesus as their template.  But few songs use the majestic images of the Book of Revelation as its controlling motif.  The Apostle John himself fainted while he was receiving the visions in the Book of Revelation because they were far too overwhelming for the human mind to bear.  Dustin Smith gives us a foretaste of such heavenly worship when he sings almost verbatim about the river that gushes out of the God's temple in such beauty and power.

11. City Harmonic's "City on a Hill" from City Harmonic's "Heart"

There's a false dichotomy between teaching and worship.  Often we don't view teaching or preaching as worship; but such a view is artificial and it domesticates worship.  Sitting at the feet of Jesus and learning from His Word can be worship just as singing at the top of our lungs.  City Harmonic takes a portion of Jesus teaching from his famous sermon in Matthew 5 and shows us that we can take a piece of pedagogy and turn it into worship too.

10. Soulfire Revolution featuring Kim Walker-Smith "Revival" from Soulfire Revolution's "Revival"

Revival is more than just a feeling.  And revival is never individualistic.  A true revival starts when God re-visits us and transforms not just our personal lives but our churches and our communities.  Yet, few of us pray for revival through our singing.  Soulfire Revolution has filled that lacuna with the lead single of their English-language album "Revival."  Enlisting Jesus Culture's Kim Walker-Smith's commanding vocal presence especially in the chorus, revival flames are ignited every time this powerhouse of a worship song is sung. 

9. Veronica Petrucci's "Worldwide Praise" from Veronica Petrucci's "Make It Out Alive"

We often pay lip service to the fact that our worship needs to be more multi-cultural.  Yet, many of our worship songs never deviate much to include the traditions of our own cultures.  Petrucci's salsa-spiced "Worldwide Praise" brings to mind Jennifer Lopez's "Let's Get Loud."  With a strong Latino dance vibe and a chorus that makes you feel you are dancing in Mexico City, "Worldwide Praise" is a gorgeous call for all nations to worship the true King.

8. Martin Smith's "Grace" from Martin Smith's "God's Great Dance Floor Step 002"

Grace makes a fool out of Christ.  Grace was what drove Christ out of his Kingly abode in heaven to donned on diapers as a baby only to grow up to be manipulated and murdered by evil men.  And if we are to be like Christ, we also need to allow grace to make us fools for Him. "Grace," co-written by Smith and Michael W. Smith is a thoughtful piano-driven ballad of gratitude to Jesus.  In the light of Christ's grace, the lines "And I'm a fool but still You love/I'll be your fool for the King of love" still well tears in this reviewer's eyes. 

 7. Calvin Gudu "Praise God" from Calvin Gudu's "Above All"

Just as Martin Smith comes to us from across the Pond, so too is UK-based Calvin Gudu.  In a time when melodies are often swallowed up in beats and big guitar riffs, "Praise God" has an old fashioned R&B vibe that is built upon strong and unforgettable melodic foundations.  A pastiche of traditional hymn, Gospel and contemporary worship, "Praise God" has an old feel dressed in a stunningly fresh presence. 

6. Hillsong Live "Glorious Ruins" from Hillsong Live's "Glorious Ruins"

Many of our Biblical passages in the Bible are pretty dramatic. Can you imagine the complex emotions of horror and excitement both burgeoning in Ezekiel's soul as he sees sinews and flesh being carefully put on human bones in a valley full of them?  Hillsong Live through the pen of Joel Houston has captured such a glorious drama in "Glorious Ruin." Starting off in a brooding slow version before an explosive chorus that speaks of God's ability to bring life out of death, one can't help but feel that if Ezekiel 37 has a soundtrack, this would be it.

5. Vertical Church "I'm Going Free (Jailbreak)" from Vertical Church's "The Rock Won't Move"

The King of rock n'roll had a song called "Jailhouse rock."  Now the King of kings has a song called "Jailbreak."  Celebrating the redemptive work of Christ over a rollicking tune that has a way that gets you singing "Glory, glory hallelujah/He threw my shackles in the sea" long after the song is over.  "Jailbreak" is one out of the many gems in Vertical Band's awesome new worship release "The Rock Won't Move."

4. Darlene Zschech "The Cross of Christ" from Various Artists' "My Hope: Songs Inspired by the Message and Mission of Billy Graham"

Billy Graham has always made a bee line for the Cross of Jesus Christ in his sermons.  The superficial will say his preaching is far too simplistic. But the wise will say that the Cross unadorned by the flowers of oratory and never buttressed by the boast of ecclesiastical rank is the power of God.  Thus, it's no surprise that with just the simple message of the Cross, Graham has reached at least 2 billion people worldwide throughout his ministry.  Sing about the cross and you will see God's power unleashed.  And Hillsong's matriarch Darlene Zschech in her tribute to Graham has serviced the church with one of the best worship songs we could use to lift high the Cross of Jesus Christ.

3. New Life Worship's "Strong God" from New Life Worship's "Strong God"

In leading worship we need to keep two things in mind: first, our worship songs need to magnify God with Biblical faithfulness. Second, a worship leader needs to avail opportunities for the worshipper to vacate his or her heart to God in surrender.  A heart that is full of the self can never truly worship. "Strong God" is one of those rare songs that contain both elements.  

2. Russell Fragar "Welcome Here" from Russell Fragar's "Worship Now"

Together with Darlene Zschech, Russell Fragar was one of the key writers, producers and worship pastors of Hillsong Church.  Responsible for crafting Hillsong favorites such as "Loved You So Much" and "God is in the House," Fragar is currently the worship pastor of The Life Church in Manassas, VA.  Calling to mind Hillsong Live's "Just Let Me Say," the keyboard based "Welcome Here" is a intense divine love song that desperately calls for Jesus' presence and the line "I want your heart to be my favorite place" is so heartfelt that you may need to have your Kleenex nearby. 

1.Hillsong Live's "You Crown the Year" from Hillsong Live's "Glorious Ruins"

Worship songs often fall into the perennial trap of being lyrically trite or they are so far removed from Scripture that they sound like secular poems with the deified "he."  Brooke Fraser (Ligdertwood) and Reuben Morgan are two of Hillsong's sharpest in-house writers and on "You Crown the Year," they take a line from Psalm 65:11 and poetically transforms it into a hymn-like song that looks to God for our provision and care. No song can wax poetry and Biblical truth so harmoniously as these words:  "O paint the fields bright and golden/Drench the harvest with Your rain/God's river filled with living water/That flows to all as You ordained."  Listening to this song, you can smell the aroma of upcoming harvest and feel the wind blowing in your hair as your heart bursts with thanksgiving and praise to God.