Music Review: My Utmost for His Highest

Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: 11 songs that will focus you on God

Cons: You won't like it if you don't like slow music

The Bottom Line:

God focused music

Contemplative worship songs

Lift your heart to God

Devotional Music

My Utmost for His Highest is best known as a classic devotional. Written by a Scottish chaplain, it has profoundly affected many lives since it first appeared in 1927.

In the mid-90's, prolific Christian producer Brown Bannister hit upon the great idea of a special project devoted to honoring the book with songs based on the themes it explores. The result was this CD which features 11 songs by 11 top artists of the day.

Since this CD is inspired by a devotional book, the style is definitely slow, quiet, and reflective. Granted, most of these artists aren't famous for their hard rock. But this CD definitely fits into the adult contemporary realm and at times slips quit easily into the inspirational sub-genre. While most of the songs feature guitar, keyboard, and drums, many also feature strings and other "orchestra" instruments. The result is beautiful to listen to and focuses me on the powerful lyrics.

Arguably the most famous song on here is "Man After Your Own Heart" by Gary Chapman. The music is nothing but piano and strings. The lyrics are simple yet compelling. They plead with God to be used by Him despite deep failings. The chorus is the cry "Though I have fallen so far/You know that I'm still/A man after Your Own heart."

The other side of this coin is presented by Bryan Duncan later on the disc. In "A Heart Like Mine," he wonders that God would chose to love and use him because of his sin. Guitar and drums play a prominent role in this track; it sounds like something you might have found on one of Bryan's projects of the time.

Of course, when the phrase inspirational comes up, Sandi Patty springs to many minds. She contribution is "God of All of Me." The piano and strings mix well to back up her amazing voice. The song is both a praise song and a prayer of surrender to God. As you'd expect, Sandi's amazing voice absolutely soars as the song climbs to its climax.

A personal favorite on the disc is the opening track. 4 Him gets things started with "You are Holy," a personal praise song. The lyrics are simple, but it gets things off to a great start by focusing our eyes on Jesus. The strings are kept in the background on this track giving the guitar and bass a chance to shine.

Twila Paris offers one of the slowest tracks on the disc, which is saying something. Though uncredited, there are strings that come in and out of the disc that is mainly piano and guitar. "Where He Leads Me" is definitely a song of commitment, mixing in metaphors about the wide and narrow road but focusing on following Jesus like the shepherd He is.

Very rarely do I find special projects like this that I enjoy. Usually, artists stick to their normal styles, so I only enjoy artists I already know I like. While I like most of these artists on their own, this CD works for me because it holds together on its own. Of course, none of these artists are stretching too much, but still, the results works to focus my thoughts on God.

My Utmost For His Highest is a great CD to use during devotions or anytime you want to focus your thoughts on God.

CD Length: 51:20

Tracks:

1. You are Holy - 4 Him

2. Love of My Soul - Amy Grant

3. Man After Your Own Heart - Gary Chapman

4. You'll be There - Cindy Morgan

5. Sometimes He Comes in the Clouds - Steven Curtis Chapman

6. God of All of Me - Sandi Patty

7. Move in Me - Michael W. Smith

8. Hold on to Me - Point of Grace

9. A Heart Like Mine - Bryan Duncan

10. Where He Leads Me - Twila Paris

11. Shine on Us - Phillips, Craig, & Dean