about four years ago i started listening only to christian music. one day, i just decided to make the switch and see what would happen. i downloaded a bunch of music that i liked and burned it onto CDs that i kept in my car. you guys, it made such a huge difference in my life. i would arrive to work in a better, more peaceful mood. i would get to school and feel focused. so many things started changing, when i began to feed my mind with praise while i drove. [i used to drive a lot more than i do now]. you know philippians 4:8, right?
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.
i wanted to do that. i had become a negative and cynical person and i didn't want to be that way anymore. i didn't realize that the music i listened to, even if it was just on in the background, made me depressed and grumpy and cynical. a lot of the world's music is depressing, meaningless, heartbreaking, self-focused, sin-focused, etc. that couldn't have been good for my mind and my heart to feast on. i've said before that music is the language of my soul. and my soul needs to "delight in the richest of fare". it doesn't need to be focused on nonsense, even if it has a good beat, even if the singer is amazing. trust me, i love music, so it was difficult for me to stick to one "genre" but it was necessary for my well-being. absolutely vital for my mental and spiritual health.
i truly do enjoy all music. my husband controls the radio when we're together. i don't close my ears or refuse to listen. i'm not opposed to it at all costs. [i promise, i'm not ridiculous, i'm actually a pretty laid-back person] but when i am choosing the music that's being played, in my car or in my home, i choose music that brings glory to God and that fills me with His goodness in a beautiful way, through music that i believe has been inspired by the Holy Spirit down through the artist's pen.
i dare you to try it, just for a week. a couple days even. if your mood starts to change, or you find yourself thinking about "such things", you might decide to stick with it? it definitely can't hurt, that's for sure. please let me know if you try it [or if you already do this]. i'd love to know the outcome.
* the link above is to my "print-it-yourself" philippians 4:8 art. use code BLOG20 for 20% off anything for the rest of this week *
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.
i dare you to try it, just for a week. a couple days even. if your mood starts to change, or you find yourself thinking about "such things", you might decide to stick with it? it definitely can't hurt, that's for sure. please let me know if you try it [or if you already do this]. i'd love to know the outcome.
* the link above is to my "print-it-yourself" philippians 4:8 art. use code BLOG20 for 20% off anything for the rest of this week *
this is the reason i don't watch the news, most popular movies, and nearly all of the rest of TV. for me, it is more about what i watch...at least for now. i would be filling myself with anxiety and fear, having tons of nightmares, etc, and like 90% of that went away when i stopped letting the sadness of the world into my heart. the same verse convicted me one day a handful of years ago. the other day my friend said about listening to secular music, "my spirit was grieved..." and i liked that. says it so well. thanks for the challenge.
ReplyDeleteit's funny. after i wrote this, i started thinking "what about tv?" i don't watch much, but do the shows that i DO watch fill me with praise, with God's goodness? not really.
ReplyDelete