Earlier this month we went on a vacation road trip. Our 17 year old brought along the soundtrack from Mama Mia! Here we go again. It could have been worse. The songs are ones we like and can sing along with almost like car karaoke…well A LOT like car karaoke. I’m fairly certain more than a few truckers got a large charge out of our rendition of “Fernando”. Rachel made a vacation video using our theme songs. I posted to Facebook which promptly muted it because it wasn’t “our” music despite it being our vacation playlist.
Returning to work the day after vacation both my husband and I found ourselves humming the show tunes throughout the day. Brian sent me an email saying, “Why can’t I get The Name of the Game out of my head,”? Vacation was over but the music was still playing. I remember thinking…If only scripture stuck this solidly in my brain.
Yesterday during worship, we sang a song with a very repetitive chorus. The worship leader had us sing it over and over. At one point my flesh was thinking “really?” but my spirit was singing along to Hillsong’s “Who you say I am”. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKw6uqtGFfo)
I am chosen
Not forsaken
I am who You say I am
You are for me
Not against me
I am who You say I am
This morning I woke up with those words running through my head. At the barn, over coffee, in the shower, “I am who YOU say I am”. Over and over like a declaration – “I am chosen, not forsaken” “You are for me, not against me” – “I am who you say I am”.
Have you thought about the playlist for your life? What is your theme song or soundtrack?
The words we hear and say most often are what runs through our minds. My “Mama Mia experience” convicted me to be even more intentional about what I listen to and how often. It reminded me that I can use music and scripture to my advantage. Through repetition, I can control where my mind goes. The brain is a muscle and we can impact the muscle memory. It convicted me that sometimes those repetitive worship songs can minister to my spirit long after the last note is played.
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
(Colossians 3:1-2)
Hear me. I am not bashing secular music. I like country music and 80’s rock. But it’s much more beneficial to have “Who the Son sets free, Oh is free indeed I’m a child of God Yes I am” looping through my mind during the day rather than “There’s gonna be a heartache tonight A heartache tonight, I know There’s gonna be a heartache tonight A heartache tonight, I know“.
When my kids were little, the Barney theme would get stuck in my head. The Veggie Tale theme can STILL be sung around the campfire with out missing a word. Why? We didn’t try to learn it. We just heard it over and over. It got hardwired in there. What words are you hardwiring into your brain?
It’s important to censor the messages that are getting into our brains and our hearts. Critical and hurtful words spoken over us need to be filtered out with positive and truthful words of affirmation tipping the balance. Bathing minds and ears in God’s promises is essential to retaining and reclaiming our true identity.
“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds, tie them as a sign on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, speaking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.…”
Deuteronomy 11:18-19
POINTS TO PONDER: What is the soundtrack of your life? Do you have a playlist? Does your playlist affirm who you are in Christ?
Catch us LIVE Monday thru Friday at 6:30am EST for #HOPEscope on www.periscope.tv Look for Connie P. Shoemaker or kissedbycreator Start each day HIS way.