Iam convinced—and you’ll never, ever change my mind—that music is one of God’s very best gifts to us. There’s the obvious element of it being fun to listen to—good medicine for our ears, so to speak—but it can also be really good for our hearts and our heads. It can help us clear our minds at the end of a hard day. It can comfort us and make us feel like someone understands when we’re walking through difficult circumstances. And it can encourage us and spur us on when we need a little extra motivation.
(It can also, according to some younger friends of mine, help you “get hype,” but I don’t really know anything about that because hype isn’t real high on the priority list for people in their forties. I mean, maybe if Publix has Buy-One-Get-One gallons of skim milk. Because then? WE’LL GET CRAZY.)
About ten years ago I realized that if I made a point to be intentional about what I listened to in the mornings, the Lord used that music to profoundly impact my perspective. If I started my day with music that turned my attention to Him—music that helped my heart and my mind focus on the Lord—it was easier for me to keep my eye on Him and see Him at work during the day’s inevitable ups and downs. Giving myself that opportunity for worship was almost like adjusting a camera lens. Making time for praise instead of immediately feeling bogged down by a to-do list had a way of sharpening my focus. It made me more mindful of how I could better love and serve in the different aspects of my life.
So.
It sounds like an exaggeration, but a playlist really can make all the difference in your day. Certainly there’s a time and a place for some JT (James Taylor or Justin Timberlake—take your pick), but don’t underestimate the power of a morning call to worship—or some reflection on the Lord’s goodness late in the afternoon. Because ultimately, making a choice to sing the Lord’s praises in the morning—and all throughout the day, for that matter—will remind us over and over again that (1) we have a Savior who loves us and cares for us, (2) our lives are not our own, and (3) He is our biggest priority.
If you have some extra time in the next few days, make a playlist that will inspire you and shift your perspective to your Savior. Those songs won’t make your problems disappear, but one thing is certain: music that prompts you to sing praise to the Lord will remind you of what—and Who—matters most.
Listen with your heart. Make a joyful noise.
1. Is music a big part of your life? Who are some of your favorite artists?
2. What are some of your favorite song lyrics? It doesn’t matter what kind of music it is; just jot down some lyrics that you like below.
3. What hymns or worship songs are most meaningful to you at this point in your life? Why are they a comfort or encouragement to you?
4. Write down Psalm 96:1–2. How many times does this verse command us to sing?
Today’s Prayer