Worship Interludes - Piano Instrumentals for Prayer, Meditation, Soaking Worship, Relaxation, Study, and Rest

“Dreams & Visions” – Piano Music for Prayer, Meditation, Soaking Worship, Relaxation, Mindfulness

Today’s episode features my customized patches from the “Sunday Sounds” assortment of sounds. I layer these in with my solo piano to provide a soundscape that is ethereal, relaxing, and continuous.

As I was improvising this morning in my morning devotion I was thinking about dreams and visions. I believe that these still happen. I also believe that we miss so many opportunities to experience them because we don’t stop our busy lives and simply be still and listen.

That’s exactly what this episode of the Worship Interludes Podcast is about. Take time, slow down, and listen. I hope that it inspires you and gives you hope and dreams.

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“Goodness of God” – Piano Instrumental for Prayer, Soaking Worship, Meditation, Quiet Time, and Rest

Today’s piano improvisation was inspired by a long, personal post that I shared on my personal Facebook profile today. This week marks a two year anniversary of a major transition and trial in my business life. It was one of the scariest times I’ve experienced and now that I’m reflecting on this two years later, I’m so grateful for the goodness and faithfulness of God.

I chose to add a video element on the video version of this episode. In this video loop, courtesy of DreamBackgrounds, you can hear the water on the shore and there is a constant sound of wind on the microphone. As an audiophile I didn’t want that wind noise. Yet, the more I worked on editing that audio the more I grew to love the sound of that background noise. It’s real. And life is real. Transitions are real. Trials are real. Sometimes, the wind is blowing.

One thing I know for sure. God is good. He is faithful.

Take time if you’d like to read the long, heartfelt post I shared on my social media. Listen to this piece and hopefully it draws you into a secret place of gratitude and contentment.

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“Contentment” – Solo Piano Improvisation Background Music for Prayer, Meditation, Soaking Worship, Relaxation, and Mindfulness

Contentment is a word that has become very powerful in my life recently. The spelling and sound of the word content is so incredibly similar to the word contempt. They are so close yet so dramatically far away. One of these words can breathe life into your soul and the other word is bitter poison that brings nothing but unhappiness, stress, anxiety, and death to our souls.

Every one of us has different areas in our lives where things may not be the way we’d hoped. When disappointment sets in we can begin to focus on all of the negative things in our situation and eventually this leads to judgment against others and ultimately, contempt. Contempt is such a dangerous place to be as this feeling removes love from our heart and replaces it with scorn, disdain, and disgust. On the other hand, the wonderful ability to be content brings about such joy and freedom.

Being content is not easy. I believe this comes as a special grace from God through prayer and self sacrifice. Yet, in that sacrifice you come to a place where you realize that even if everything isn’t perfect in your life, you are at peace and have discovered how to be satisfied.

The apostle Paul shares this so beautifully in the book of Philippians, Chapter 4:

11Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13I can do all things through him who strengthens me.Philippians 4: 11-13

I would like to encourage you to prayerfully consider areas in your heart where perhaps you’ve formed contempt over contentment. Confess those and ask for the strength and grace to be content in your situation. And remember, being content doesn’t mean that you give up on seeing your circumstances changing. It just means they don’t control your heart, mind, and emotions. It means that in the waiting, you are at peace.

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“Sing for Joy” – Piano Improvisation for Worship, Singing, Prayer, Meditation

Sing. That is what I did this morning while I recorded this improvisation. Sing with a sore, hoarse throat. Sing in the middle of coughs. I’ve been battling a nasty cold the past week and my voice is strained from days of coughing and congestion. Yet, as I began to improvise this morning, I felt the deepest need to just begin to sing. It was no song that has been written. I was just singing worship from my heart. Phrases of love, adoration, and gratitude for my God. Phrases of affirmation and affection coming forth. Singing in the Spirit.

Something magical happens in our bodies when we sing. No doubt, people in science have studied this and have documented some of the amazing things that happen inside our bodes when we sing. It’s my deep belief that we were all created to sing. Not all of us may sing well (myself included), but we can all sing.

Today’s interlude may feel a bit different. It may seem less lyrical and more rhythmic. This is because the melody was coming forth from my strained, broken voice.

When is the last time you closed the door and just sang freely. There’s no lyrics here – make up your own. Just sing “la la la la” if you must.

Sing for joy. It is so good for the soul!

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“Butterfly Sunrise” Solo Piano Instrumental by Jeff Bjorck

Today’s piano instrumental improvisation is called “Butterfly Sunrise” and features pianist Jeff Bjorck. This beautiful, calming, peaceful piano improvisation is featured as episode #206 of the Worship Interludes Podcast. As I am traveling this week, I’d asked some of my colleagues who share a passion for peaceful, anointed piano music to share their gift. Jeff is a friend and colleague and fellow piano artist in the Whisperings Solo Piano Artists group.

Jeff’s tagline for his website says “quiet music to calm the heart in a noisy world”. How appropriate for this podcast which is designed to provide peaceful, calm, inspiring piano instrumental music as a background for prayer, meditation, soaking worship, relaxation, and mindfulness.

Follow Jeff Bjorck’s Music

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Listen to “Butterfly Sunrise” Piano Solo by Jeff Bjorck

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“Love Conquers All” – Piano Instrumental by Guest Artist Antonio Romo

I’m honored to introduce you all to a guest pianist, Mr. Antonio Romo. Antonio and I discovered one another on YouTube and have become colleagues and friends. He has a special, sweet sound and is very intentional in the creation of his compositions.

I’m traveling this week and since I’m out of the studio I wanted to provide an opportunity for some of my fellow pianists to share their work on the Worship Interludes Podcast.

I’ve asked my guest artists to do the same thing I do which is to improvise an instrumental interlude in a spirit of prayer and worship.

Be sure to tell Antonio how much you appreciate his music and follow him on his sites.

Follow Antonio Romo, Contemporary Neo-Classical Pianist

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“Love One Another” – Piano Improvisation by Fred McKinnon

Love One Another is a solo piano improvisation that provides background music for prayer, meditation, soaking worship, relaxation, mindfulness, and rest. It’s released as episode #204 of the Worship Interludes Podcast.

I enjoyed a conversation with a friend yesterday that was over controversial social and moral issues. At the same time, I’ve been drawn into some of the impeachment debate that is happening in our nation.

We will always have differences. However, we are still called to love one another.

Love doesn’t always mean approval. Love doesn’t always display itself as sweet or romantic. But love must be authentic and it must be selfless.

My hope and prayer is that you will be more self aware of how you can love God, others, and even yourself better and better each day.

Have a fantastic weekend and thank you for listening to my podcast.

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“In A Moment” – Piano Instrumental Improvisation for Prayer, Meditation, Relaxation by Fred McKinnon, Pianist/Composer

Today’s solo piano instrumental improvisation is called “In A Moment”. It is one of the shortest interludes recorded for the Worship Interludes Podcast.

I have written on numerous occasions about the trap we can fall into when we think of spiritual disciplines and our time. It is so tempting to presume that unless we have an extended amount of time, there is no way to have mediation, prayer, mindfulness, or worship. Although there are amazing benefits to extended times of focus, it’s also very effective to have short moments throughout our day where we can pause and practice these amazing disciplines.

I spent the last four days traveling with my youngest son, Andrew. I’ve returned late on Monday night and awakened on this Tuesday morning feeling like I’m a week behind already. I slept in until nearly 7:00 AM so was already a solid two hours behind my normal schedule.

Desperately needing to get to work, I had to remind myself of two of my “big rocks” – commitments in my day that I want to stay faithful with. One of those is my morning walk with my golden retriever, Sadie. The other is making this podcast. Everything inside of me fought against these and I was so tempted to rush out the door and dive into my busy day.

Deep down I know that my day will be better when I stay faithful to these commitments I have. I reminded myself that recording this interlude was important – not just for the listeners, but for my own health. This time is refreshing for my soul and my mind. It has deep spiritual significance for me and it also calms my mind and emotions.

This piece is just under four minutes long. It’s the perfect length to practice a few minutes of prayer, meditation, mindfulness, or worship. Listen and express gratitude, offer prayers, or simply close your eyes, breathe deeply and slowly, and allow the music to wash over you. Feel your heart rate slow down. Feel the weight of the world’s cares lift off your shoulders – even for a moment.

I would be shocked if you didn’t feel better afterwards!

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“Gentle Rain” – Piano Instrumental for Prayer, Meditation, Soaking Worship, Relaxation, Reflection, and Mindfulness

Today’s episode is entitled “Gentle Rain”. When I woke up just before 6:00 AM there was a soft, gentle rain happening outside. The beauty of rain, watering the earth, bringing much needed refreshment and vital nourishment to our planet. I couldn’t help but think about places where they do not have access to clean water. Fresh rain must be such a blessing to them.

I’d left most of my programs open on my computer in my home studio when I went to bed last night. I finished my quiet time devotion and sat down to record. As I began to close out all of the apps and programs I couldn’t help but notice an email from one of my subscribers and patrons:

Dear Fred,At 6:00a.m., fighting the fretting in my head, turned on your music… ah! A message for the soul! Peace, hope, the quiet whisper enters in. The all creating Father,The all loving Father brings peace and whispers to my heart….Your music is a ministry, not a performance.Thank you!(from Worship Interludes subscriber and one of my patrons)

When I read these types of emails, Facebook messages, text messages, and YouTube comments, my heart explodes. I can truly say this response is not out of pride, but out of a deep satisfaction of knowing that my music is impacting lives. I cannot take all of the credit for that. Yes, I discipline myself to sit down and faithfully record 2x per week. However, I deeply believe it is the prayer God’s purpose behind this podcast that makes the difference.

So today, as I played, I prayed for you. Some of you may have the same Christian faith that I celebrate and some of you may have another faith completely. Some of you do not even believe in a Higher Power. Regardless of who you are and how you believe, my prayer for you is that you would be touched by peace, joy, and comfort.

Have a great weekend!

Grace and peace,Fred McKinnon, Pianist/Composer

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“Press Through” – Worship Interludes Podcast, Episode #201

This piano instrumental improvisation is called “Press Through”.   Featured as episode #201 of the Worship Interludes Podcast, It’s in the key of F minor and it feels a bit tense.  Oddly, I don’t feel tense at all today, I feel fantastic.   I had a great workout in the crisp cool 36 degree morning gloom with some of my F3 (F3Nation.com) brothers and have been making some really positive strides with my health.

Despite that, this is just the vibe that came forth this morning.  Many times for me, I tend to pray more intently or with more of a “battling” type posture in my intercession when the music is in a minor key.

I hope that it’s a blessing to you as you listen. As always, I love hearing your feedback and comments. Comment below or contact me via email to tell me how these interludes are being used in your daily life.

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