We might have been sipping those PSLs since August, but it’s just now beginning to feel like fall. As pumpkins decorate porches, leaves turn beautiful shades of auburn, and cooler nights demand cozy evenings by the fire, we’re certain you’re going to need a soundtrack for one of our favorite times of year. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. From ballads that fight anxiety to anthems that affirm God is never late, our current K-LOVE playlist is full of optimism tailor-made for the changing of seasons. As we usher in all the excitement and promise the months ahead hold, we can rest in the truth that our God never changes. Here are eight encouraging songs for autumn.
“Made For More,” Josh Baldwin (feat. Jenn Johnson)
Helping us find our identity solely in Christ, Josh Baldwin serves up “Made For More.” The mid-tempo worship offering also features his good friend, Jenn Johnson, on background vocals. Originally penned at a songwriters’ camp more than a year ago, the track affirms we were all made on purpose for a purpose; and Baldwin drives that truth home with the steady strumming of his acoustic and the comforting timbre of his voice. “I know who I am because I know who You are,” he asserts in the first verse. “This song just speaks about our identity in Christ and who we are called to be… Knowing who we are starts with just knowing what the Lord did for us,” Baldwin shares of the single, which recently ascended the charts to become his first No. 1. “As you listen to this song, I pray that the Lord will begin to reveal who you are in Him. I pray that you will be reminded that the Creator of the universe has called you by name; and He’s brought us from death to life. We’ve been created for so much more than we could even imagine.”
“Beautiful Life,” Pat Barrett
Pat Barrett reflects on the fleeting nature of time on his new single, “Beautiful Life,” an anchor track from his third studio effort, “Shelter.” While it’s not the album’s title-cut, a line in “Beautiful Life” does cut to the core of the record: “Oh, what a beautiful life. It doesn’t mean it’s always going to feel all right, but it’ll be a gift if you hold it right.” The respected singer/songwriter wrote the exuberant anthem with Brian Johnson, Gable Price and Chris Davenport. A playful, pop-centric standout that acknowledges the brevity of our existence this side of heaven and the beauty that can be found in the everyday, “Beautiful Life” leans on the truth of Ecclesiastes 3:11: “Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.” Supported by gang vocals, Barrett fronts the unusually lighthearted selection with ease — a rarity for the gifted lyricist known for penning thoughtful, worshipful faire for the Church.
“That’s Who I Praise,” Brandon Lake
Thanks to an outpouring of requests from fans, Brandon Lake has officially released “That’s Who I Praise,” which quickly caught fire across TikTok and Instagram after the five-time K-LOVE Fan Award winner teased a portion of the unfinished track. That’s when Lake realized he had to complete the song and accelerate the release date. A K-LOVE First, “That’s Who I Praise” namechecks a myriad of biblical heroes, cramming as many Scripture-backed stories into the lyrics as possible. Referencing David, Moses, Mary, Daniel and other men and women of extraordinary faith, the fist-pumping pop selection also acknowledges the many characteristics of God, as He reveals Himself to not just be a mountain mover, but also a breaker of chains and a Savior capable of impossible things. “I hope this song shines light on who God was, is and will forever be,” Lake says. “This song is an anthem that takes the focus off of what we need from God, but more so, praises God for simply who He is.”
“Still Waters (Psalm 23),” Leanna Crawford
Leanna Crawford modernizes a familiar passage of Scripture on her new single, “Still Waters (Psalm 23).” “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want,” she sings. “He leads me by still waters ’til my fears are gone. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, oh, I know You are with me, my Father, my friend. Your goodness and mercy will follow me all of my days. I know by Your still waters, I’m safe.” A balm for anxiety, “Still Waters (Psalm 23)” was inspired by Crawford’s great aunt, who, on the cusp of going blind in her 40s, decided to memorize the majority of the Bible. She even namechecks this heroine of faith in the passionate ballad’s first verse. “This song has been so special to me as it was inspired by my Great Aunt Maurine. I got to meet her at 103-years-old, and even then she could recite almost the entire Bible, and she was still impacting people all around her,” Crawford shares. “My hope and prayer with this song is that you will feel peace with these lyrics and be inspired to hold God’s Word deeply in your heart.”
“Friend in Jesus,” CAIN
CAIN speaks to the power of an intimate relationship with God on their new single, “Friend in Jesus.” With lyrics that swiftly invite you to raise your voice and lift your hands, the simple guitar/piano-led song features Taylor Cain Matz helming lead vocals with siblings Logan and Madison backing her on pristine harmonies. The choir-elevated ballad showcases the pastor’s kids’ ability to lead people in worship just as easily as they can command an arena-ready pop confection. CAIN delivers “Friend in Jesus” with an obvious passion and devotion, building to a bridge that borrows lyrics from traditional church standard “In the Garden.” “We pray this song reminds you that you have a Savior, a Shepherd, a Healer, and a FRIEND in Jesus Christ!” the group shares of the modern-day hymn. The trio first recorded a live version of the anthemic track for 2023’s “Honest Offering.” “Friend in Jesus” became an immediate favorite, so the K-LOVE Fan Award winners reimagined the worship original in the studio and released it on the deluxe edition of their sophomore LP, “Jesus Music.”
“Right on Time,” Iveth Luna
New artist Iveth Luna affirms God is never late on her single, “Right on Time.” The buoyant anthem contends that while God may not work on our timetable, there’s never been a moment when He hasn’t shown up right on time. Written shortly after she got engaged, “Right on Time” was inspired by Luna’s long-held desire for marriage, which didn’t happen as quickly as she planned. The perfect declaration for those in a season of waiting, the track gives Christian music fans a taste of the relatable lyrics and dynamic vocal that define the newcomer’s artistry. The bilingual singer has also recorded “Right on Time” in Spanish. “I have experienced both sides of the coin when it comes to worrying about my future. Whether I find myself rushing and striving for the next thing or having anxiety over the next phase in life, I want to remind my soul of all the times God has been faithful to me in His perfect timing,” Luna says. “This song reminds our hearts to have confidence in God’s timing and plan because of His perfect track record.”
“The Jesus Way,” Phil Wickham
If there was any doubt as to what Phil Wickham believes, “The Jesus Way” leaves little room for deliberation. The third radio single from “I Believe,” “The Jesus Way” makes a countercultural statement, proclaiming that Jesus is — without question — the way, the truth and the life. With radical lyrics that reflect the ethos of The Beatitudes found in Matthew 5 — often referred to as Jesus’ famous “Sermon on the Mount” — “The Jesus Way” is Wickham’s personal mantra of the man he wants to be: “If you curse me, then I will bless you. If you hurt me, I will forgive. And if you hate me, then I will love you. I choose the Jesus way.” Three years in the making, the powerful ballad finds Wickham wholeheartedly pledging His allegiance to Jesus and His biblical teachings. “‘The Jesus Way’ is one of the closest songs to my heart that I’ve ever released… For me, it’s a line-in-the-sand song about what I want to stand for and who I follow,” Wickham shares. “I’m so excited to sing this song with the Church, and I’m inviting anyone and everyone who follows Jesus to join me in this anthem.”
“Loves Got a Way,” Andrew Ripp
Andrew Ripp waves a white flag of surrender on his new song, “Loves Got a Way.” The singer/songwriter allows the easier yoke of God’s love to wash over him like an ocean wave on the pop-centric original. Ripp wrote the anthemic track with close collaborators Ethan Hulse and Rachael Lampa nearly a year ago but only recently released it. The radio single serves up a preliminary taste of Ripp’s forthcoming full-length project, “The Great Wide Open Wild,” coming soon. Like many of the other fresh selections included on his next highly anticipated album, “Loves Got a Way” invites listeners to lay down their pride and embrace everything a relationship with Jesus offers: healing for pain, beauty for ashes and freedom from shame. The hope and redemption of his optimistic love-conquers-all ethos is palpable as Ripp delivers a chorus full of poetic lines. Furthermore, the song’s official lyric video captures the carefree release felt across the track as it features clips of Ripp on vacation, enjoying a day at the beach with his daughter, Frances, and Lampa’s son, Jax.
