3 minute read 
by Bethany Rees

Sports & Pump-Up Songs 

Have you ever tried to prepare yourself mentally or physically to overcome a challenge by listening to a great pump-up song? 

One of my favorite things about being an athlete “back in the day” was the adrenaline rush I got from the music that played as the team and I ran out on the court or field. Through the music, you could internalize the battle cry and feel yourself preparing for the challenge ahead.

Athletes and sports arenas all over the world continue to play music to activate the crowd to cheer for their favorite player or team. Music continues to serve as a pump-up battle cry to prepare the soldiers for war…or at least the next play of the game.

Nowadays, I’m not stepping foot on a court or a field unless I want to end up in an ER shortly thereafter, but man I still love a good pump up song. 

In fact, despite my calmer activities, I still have pump-me-up music for almost everything I do. 

When it comes to preparing for my day or driving around town, I’m all about that praise and worship music. A huge shout out to my favorite Christian radio stations: KSBJ, Air1, K-Love, and KVNE. 

But I do listen to secular music too (just not a lot of it…God has transformed my taste over the years).

When cooking, I go with crooner variety types like Michael Bublé and Dean Martin. 

For all things outdoors, I’m always tapping into that old school country of the 1980s. 

All three genres of the music that I listen to most nowadays are pretty calm and clean. 

BUT…I have a hip hop and rock hard side too. Hello NGen radio (a Chistian hip hop and rock station).

Finding a Battle Cry Song for Spiritual Warfare

And here lately, as I’ve been feeling more called into preparing for spiritual challenges and hardships—I’m memorizing scripture and listening to Christian rock (definitely not secular rock).

No matter where your thoughts are concerning the end times or the “day of the Lord,” one thing has always been certain…the Bible tells us we are to be watchful and to stay ready because there is an ever-present spiritual warfare going on around us.

“Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.” ~ Matthew 24:42  [emphasis added]

“Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.” ~ Mark 13:33 [emphasis added]

“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” ~1 Corinthians 16:13 [emphasis added]

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” ~ Ephesians 5:15-16 [emphasis added]

Put on the Whole Armor of God

We are to stay ready so we don’t have to get ready! And how do we stay ready? By putting on the whole armor or God. 

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”~ Ephesians 6:10-13 [emphasis added]

While it’s true that God is love and believers are at “shalom” peace with God (worship music), we are also at war with the devil and we must stay prepared and ready (battle cry music). 

Cue the new spiritual warfare battle song as I continue diving into my Bible daily, memorizing scripture, staying ready with the armor of God, and prayer-walking my house with arms flailing.

So what is my new spiritual battle cry song? I have several, but here are a few of them:

• Count ‘em and Sevens by Brandon Lake, 
• Take It All Back by Tauren Wells, 
• No Survivors by Jeremy Camp, 
• Stand Strong by The Band Jaren,
• Get Behind Me by Emerson Day, and
• Mighty Name of Jesus by Hope Darst (softer genre and a great prayer song).

How are you staying prepared for spiritual warfare? What scriptures are you memorizing? What is your battle cry song?

Know Better. Do Better. Live Better. Stay Awake. Be watchful. Stand Firm. Put on the Whole Armor of God.

Rocks before Sand!

Scripture: 

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” ~ Ephesians 6:11

Theme Song: 

Brandon Lake - SEVENS (Lyric Video)

References Used:

The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.