The Lenten season is known for many themes, one of which is repentance. Christians who celebrate Lent make a concerted effort to confess their sins to the Lord and to repent from them.
Repentance involves deep prayer and meditating on God’s Word, but Christians are also called to “sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs” (Ephesians 5:19). Several hymns have been written about the topic of repentance.
In the spirit of Lent, here are four hymns to sing as you turn your heart back to God. You can listen to these hymns and more through The Chimes Lent playlist.
“SOFTLY AND TENDERLY JESUS IS CALLING”
“Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling” is a hymn composed and written by Will L. Thompson in 1880. The hymn’s lyrics describe Christ calling back weary sinners to “come home.” Jesus is portrayed as waiting and pleading, promising mercy. The hymn pushes us to not linger but heed Christ’s calls.
“COME, YE SINNERS, POOR AND NEEDY”
“Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy” is a hymn written by Joseph Hart and published in 1759. The four stanzas make calls for sinners to repent, while the refrains voice such sinners responding to the call by saying, “I will arise and go to Jesus.” The refrain imitates what the Prodigal Son says in Luke 15:18 after he realizes that his life of running away from his father has led him to poverty and starvation.
“CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART, O GOD”
“Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God” is a hymn composed and written by John Carter in 1997. The text of the hymn comes straight from Psalm 51:10-12, part of the wider Psalm 51 which is a lament psalm where David asks for forgiveness for committing adultery with Bathsheba and murdering her husband. Repenting, he asks for a new, clean heart.
“O FOR A CLOSER WALK WITH GOD”
“O for a Closer Walk with God” is a hymn written by William Cowper in 1769 based on a tune from the Scottish Psalter of 1635. The hymn speaks of a desire to walk with God, as well as a hatred for sin and a request to God to help tear down idols.
MORE LENT THEMED MUSIC AND HYMNS
Biola University’s Center for Christianity, Culture and the Arts is currently hosting its 2025 Lent Project, which sends out daily devotionals containing art, music, poetry and devotional writings by Biola faculty as well as outside guests. Some devotionals contain hymns such as the ones listed above. Check their Lent 2025 page if you are interested.
