It had been an annoying morning. Nothing earth shattering, just a few people in a row that happened to be a little on the insulting side. I reminded myself that I am not going to let things get me down anymore. No more sweet, sensitive soul, ‘cause that’s been looking too much like a doormat lately.
I am womaaaan! I hummed. Hear me roar! I don’t know the rest of the song, so I stopped there, but I continued my little pep talk. I don’t need those people to validate me! I’m strong, I’m invincible…I am woman!
Then it happened. Mid-roar. You are my strong tower. Another song, this one by Kutless. Hmm. I switched songs and began to smile.
You are my strong tower
Shelter over me, beautiful and mighty, everlasting king
You are my strong tower
Fortress when I’m weak
Your name is true and holy
And your face all I see
This song reminded me of Psalm 61:3: For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.
Probably a better message to send myself. God’s strength, not mine. Yeah, definitely.
Have you ever had an epiphany and wondered how you possibly lived your whole life without knowing what you just realized?
I have always chosen music based on my mood. I have a CD mix entitled “Sad Songs” for when I need a good cry. I have pensive music, angry-girl music from the 90’s, and love songs for when I’m feeling mushy. I felt pretty safe about my choices. I mean, there’s no gangsta rap in my playlist.
One little whisper from the Holy Spirit and I realized that I have been so, so wrong. All those times I spent sobbing with Celine in the background could have been spent with my God, in His comforting presence.
Instead, I bought into the lie perpetuated by girl magazines and chick flicks…that a pint of ice cream and a sad CD is a perfectly normal ritual that we all need once in a while. That a strong woman has all the strength she needs…right inside herself.
Not so. I don’t believe life is hopeless. I don’t believe that we are to be self-sufficient. I don’t believe many of the messages that the songs I love are sending my brain, and ultimately, my heart.
Music affects my soul. A simple song on the radio can catapult me back fifteen years or more to a happy, sad, or confusing experience. The right song can list my mood as easily as the wrong one can send me into a downward spiral.
Why not, then, turn to music that points back to the truth, God’s Word? I’m not saying I’ll never again be moved by a secular song…and probably some Ben and Jerry’s too.
I’m just going to be more careful about the songs I listen to, because—like it or not—they eventually move from my brain to my heart.
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Proverbs 4:23
Got any good song recommendations for my new mix?
AnnieinCali says
Excellent post, Angela! I mostly listen to Christian music now, but once in a while I find myself tuned in to KOST 103.5. And I pretty much know every song on there (well, that’s what my kids think). But often I find myself singing a song that I used to sing as a teen and realizing the words aren’t at all what I would want my teen to sing. I never realized it back then what I was singing. Crazy??
And, yes, a song can put me back in time.
Also, a smell can put me back in time. My mom has passed now, but her scent was Tabu. And I can’t smell that scent now without a good cry!
Robin says
Sweetly Broken – Jeremy Riddle, in fact the whole CD!
mamala says
You hit it darlin’.
Music has way too much power over me if I let it.
So I don’t let it.
Mostly.
Matee says
Wow, that?s a really clever way of tinkhing about it!
Dyelson says
I hope you don’t mind if I use this on my website, cniizets4truth.blogspot.com. An uneducated populace is equal to a nation of slaves. An educated populace will know they should not fear those in power, but instead feel it their responsibility to hold them accountable. Let’s find some common ground in a world that seeks to keep us divided over petty useless fights and TAKE BACK OUR COUNTRY.
Rhonda says
Great post Angela. My new favorite CDs are Church Music by the David Crowder Band, Albertine by Brooke Fraser, Life Light Up by Christy Nockels, Hope Rising by Fee and Consumed by Jesus Culture. Those are just the new ones for me. There is so much amazing music out there!
Stacy says
I was in that exact spot a couple weeks ago realizing what I wanted to feel (spiritual) wasn’t happening and part of that was the music I was listening to ( I also have a happy, sad and love song mixes) What I needed to do was listen to my favorite praise song mix and after a day or two I was feeling what I was longing for. I love that we have so many wonderful songs to help us praise the Lord 🙂
Stacy says
ohh a few songs I am hung up on right now are
Revelation Song by Kari Jobe
Take my Life (and let it be) by Chris Tomlin
Grace Flows Down by Passion
Turtlemomma says
Yeah Angela. Yeah. Its the Jesus inside us,not our own power that gets us through the day. I have been struggling with this one a bit, and asking the Lord for his power with work. As for me Jennifer Napp is my angry or sad music. I have her collection album and I had her first two cd’s. Such powerful words from Christian music. And to think it all started with people like Uncle Greg Eckler.
Joy
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