Music: What Christian Music, Books, and Films Are Worth Your Time This Week? Honest Reviews of the Best New Releases
- Dr. Layne McDonald
- 5 days ago
- 7 min read
By Dr. Layne McDonald
Three standout Christian releases this week include Leanna Crawford's sophomore album Thank God (a vulnerable, acoustic-pop collection about gratitude and surrender), Stephanie Rousselle's Awaken Delight (a guide to rediscovering joy in God when you feel spiritually numb), and the comedy Bad Counselors (a surprisingly sincere story about redemption set at a Christian youth camp). Each offers genuine spiritual nourishment in its own way.
You want to feed your soul, not just fill your time. But with so much Christian media dropping every week, it's hard to know what's actually worth your attention. You do not want shallow. You do not want cheesy. You want something real, something that makes you feel closer to God, not just busier with content. Let me help you cut through the noise.
Philippians 4:8 sets the tone here: "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." We are called to steward our attention. What we consume shapes what we love. These reviews are offered in that spirit, helping you find what is true, noble, and excellent.
Can a pop album teach you to thank God for the hard years?
Leanna Crawford's Thank God is the album you did not know you needed until you are driving alone and the chorus hits you right in the chest. Released July 24, this eleven-track project is already being discussed as an album-of-the-year contender, and I understand why.
Crawford has a gift for taking the messy parts of life, the unanswered prayers, the relationships that fell apart, the dreams that died, and turning them into honest worship. The title track, "Thank God," is a declaration of gratitude not for easy circumstances but for a God who stays through the hard ones. "Water into Wine" featuring Seph Schlueter offers a gentle reminder that Jesus still shows up when we have run out of answers. "Ask Him Again" feels written for the person who is simply too tired to pray big prayers anymore.
But the song that stayed with me was "Green Pastures." It closes the album with a quiet, psalm-like surrender. It is the kind of ending that does not ask for applause. It asks for stillness.
This album does not scream at you. It sits beside you. It is for the listener who has lived long enough to know that gratitude is not always loud. Sometimes it is tearful, quiet, and deeply real.
What do you do when you have lost your delight in God?
Stephanie Rousselle's Awaken Delight is a book for the spiritually exhausted. It is for the person who still believes but has stopped feeling, who still shows up but has stopped tasting. Released by InterVarsity Press on July 28, this is not a hype book. It is a slow invitation back to wonder.
Rousselle writes from a compelling place. As a former atheist who came to faith and now leads Gospel Spice Ministries, she understands what spiritual deadness can feel like. That perspective gives the book credibility and tenderness. She is not speaking from a polished distance. She is writing like someone who has walked through dim rooms and found light again.
Her central argument is simple and strong: delight is not a performance-based emotion. It is a resilient identity rooted in God's secure love for you. You do not have to earn the right to enjoy God. You already have it.
The writing carries sensory warmth. You can almost feel the stillness she is inviting you into. This is not a book to rush through while checking notifications every thirty seconds (which, real talk, is how many of us try to "rest"). It is a book to receive slowly.
Can a comedy about a Christian summer camp actually be good?
Bad Counselors hit theaters July 22, and yes, I went in skeptical too. A faith-based comedy about two frat boys posing as counselors at a Christian youth camp sounds like a setup that could go sideways in a hurry. But director Chris Dowling pulls it off with more heart than I expected.
Matt Cornett and Ramon Reed play Grayson and Tyler, two college students facing expulsion after a night of bad decisions. Their sentence is 120 hours of community service at a Christian summer camp. What follows is funny, awkward, and surprisingly sincere.
The film carries a PG-13 rating for suggestive material, so parents should preview before sharing it with younger kids. That matters. Family discernment is not fear. It is wisdom. But what surprised me most was the emotional center of the story. Beneath the slapstick and one-liners is a redemptive thread about identity, consequences, and the slow discovery of who you were created to be.
Chris Klein, Brec Bassinger, and Missi Pyle round out a cast that commits to the material without mocking the faith at the center of it. The film does not sneer at belief. It leans toward redemption. In a comedy, that is rarer than it should be.
How can you choose Christian media with wisdom?
Before you invest time in any new Christian media, read the description, listen to a sample track, or watch a trailer, then ask yourself one question: "Will this help me love God or love people more?" If the answer is yes, step in. If the answer is unclear, wait. Your attention is a spiritual resource, not just a schedule filler.
That may sound simple, but simple is not shallow. In a distracted age, spiritual maturity often looks like learning to say yes on purpose and no without guilt.
What are the five biggest takeaways from this week's releases?
Leanna Crawford's Thank God is an album of honest, quiet worship for people who have walked through hard seasons.
Stephanie Rousselle's Awaken Delight reminds us that delight in God is not a feeling we manufacture. It is a gift we receive.
Bad Counselors proves Christian comedy can be genuinely funny without losing its soul.
All three releases share a common thread: vulnerability often becomes the doorway to spiritual growth.
The best Christian media does not just entertain you. It helps you become more of who God made you to be.
What does this mean for you today?
You do not have to consume everything. You do not need to keep up with every release, every recommendation, every trending conversation. But you can choose one thing this week, one album, one book, one film, that feeds your soul instead of just filling your time. That is not just entertainment. That is discipleship.
What should you ask yourself right now?
What is the one area of your spiritual life that feels most dry right now, and what would it look like to let God meet you there through a song, a story, or a quiet moment with a book?
What is one small step you can take this week?
Pick one of the three releases above and give it thirty minutes of unhurried attention this week. No multitasking. No scrolling. No background noise fighting for your soul. Just you, the content, and room for God to speak.
Where can you go deeper from here?
If this kind of discernment helps you, you may also want to read:
If you are looking for music that quiets your soul the way Leanna Crawford's Thank God does, explore the instrumental and ambient worship music at www.laynemcdonald.com. If you are in a season of spiritual dryness and need a guide, the coaching and mentoring resources there can help you rediscover your delight in God. And if you are a creative who wants to make media that truly matters, whether music, film, or writing, you will find books and creative resources designed to help you find your voice and your true north.
Frequently asked questions
Is Thank God by Leanna Crawford worth listening to?
Yes. If you value honest worship, vulnerable songwriting, and reflective acoustic-pop with spiritual depth, Thank God is worth your time.
Is Awaken Delight a devotional or a teaching book?
It leans more like a reflective spiritual formation book than a daily devotional. It is designed to be read slowly and prayerfully.
Is Bad Counselors safe for kids?
It has a PG-13 rating for suggestive material, so parents should preview it first. It may be better suited for older teens and adults than younger children.
Why do Christian media reviews matter?
Because what we watch, read, and listen to shapes our imagination, attention, and affections. Wise review helps believers choose content that nourishes faith instead of just filling time.
How do I decide if Christian media is spiritually helpful?
Ask whether it draws you toward truth, humility, love, beauty, repentance, courage, or hope. If it does, it may be worth your attention. If it only gives you noise, it may not deserve your time.
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If this review helped you choose what to watch, read, or listen to this week, you will find more thoughtful Christian media guidance, original music, books, and mentoring resources at www.laynemcdonald.com. You can also reach out for coaching, speaking, or creative collaboration. The goal is simple: help you find your true north through faith, creativity, and the kind of content that actually changes you.
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