Music To My Heart
February 10, 2021
February 10, 2021
I know the phrase is music to my ears, but maybe it should be music to my heart. I recently watched a movie on Netflix called I Can Only Imagine. It is a story about how Mercy Me came up with the song. This is an extremely powerful story and if you have not seen it, I highly recommend it!
Since watching this movie, I have been thinking a lot about the role music plays in my life. I was thinking back over my life and I do not remember a single day that did not have music in it through one form or another. Music is a huge part of our lives, on the radio and in the background to our favourite movies, shows and video games. It wafts through the halls of the mall, the rows at the grocery store and it lingers in waiting rooms. Music dances through the restaurants we eat at and fills our hearts at events like graduations, weddings, funerals, and parties. It seems there is no escaping music in our lives.
Music triggers memories and emotion. I have had a few songs in my life that trigger special memories for me. I had a Walkman and for those of you who are too young to know what that is, it was basically the only way you could listen to the music you chose while on the go. Every year when the Calgary Stampede was going on, we would go to see the fireworks. When we would arrive, I would play music on my Walkman and almost every time the fireworks were going the same song would come on. These were moments when I was in awe and wonder at the beauty in the sky so that song was engrained into that memory.
Have you ever had a song that brought you to tears when you heard it? I Can Only Imagine is one of those songs for me. I remember the first time I heard it, I played it over and over. It still brings tears to my eyes when I hear it and take the time to focus on the lyrics. Music can be a powerful force on our lives.
The question then becomes what kind of music do we listen to? Does it build us up and bring joy, love and hope to our lives, does it bring you down, drawing you to feel alone, lost or maybe even angry? Does it not make you feel anything but just fill the silence of your life? If we listen to music just to be free of silence and we do not really listen to the lyrics does it have an impact? YES, it does!
I was driving to Calgary once and I put on music that filled me with peace, love and joy and the trip was amazing! I saw the snow-covered mountains and marvelled at the beauty as I drove. I spent time in prayer and sang along to the music and before I knew it I could see the city light of Calgary looming ahead of me. On the way back, I made different music choices and even though the trip took less time, I found myself more anxious about other drivers, more stressed about the roads and less excited about the trip. The trip back actually took less time than the trip to Calgary, but it felt longer… a lot longer.
Take some time to think about how the music you listen to makes you feel. Just like our bodies let us know when something we eat is not sitting well, so will your emotions let you know if what you are listening to is helping you or not. Listen to your heart and soul as you listen.
Philippians 4:7-8 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
When we focus on things that are true, honourable, and right, we experience God’s peace. I need God’s peace every day. I think that is why my trip to Calgary was so different than my trip back. It is not that the music I chose on the way back was bad, but it was not pure, lovely and admirable either.
Personal Note: Music is a huge part of our lives, ensure that the music you are listening to you is a benefit to you and not holding you back from the best life you could have. Take some time over the next week and really monitor how music makes you feel and how it affects your heart, it may be time to change out some of your music so that you can live life with your heart filled with joy and peace.
Since watching this movie, I have been thinking a lot about the role music plays in my life. I was thinking back over my life and I do not remember a single day that did not have music in it through one form or another. Music is a huge part of our lives, on the radio and in the background to our favourite movies, shows and video games. It wafts through the halls of the mall, the rows at the grocery store and it lingers in waiting rooms. Music dances through the restaurants we eat at and fills our hearts at events like graduations, weddings, funerals, and parties. It seems there is no escaping music in our lives.
Music triggers memories and emotion. I have had a few songs in my life that trigger special memories for me. I had a Walkman and for those of you who are too young to know what that is, it was basically the only way you could listen to the music you chose while on the go. Every year when the Calgary Stampede was going on, we would go to see the fireworks. When we would arrive, I would play music on my Walkman and almost every time the fireworks were going the same song would come on. These were moments when I was in awe and wonder at the beauty in the sky so that song was engrained into that memory.
Have you ever had a song that brought you to tears when you heard it? I Can Only Imagine is one of those songs for me. I remember the first time I heard it, I played it over and over. It still brings tears to my eyes when I hear it and take the time to focus on the lyrics. Music can be a powerful force on our lives.
The question then becomes what kind of music do we listen to? Does it build us up and bring joy, love and hope to our lives, does it bring you down, drawing you to feel alone, lost or maybe even angry? Does it not make you feel anything but just fill the silence of your life? If we listen to music just to be free of silence and we do not really listen to the lyrics does it have an impact? YES, it does!
I was driving to Calgary once and I put on music that filled me with peace, love and joy and the trip was amazing! I saw the snow-covered mountains and marvelled at the beauty as I drove. I spent time in prayer and sang along to the music and before I knew it I could see the city light of Calgary looming ahead of me. On the way back, I made different music choices and even though the trip took less time, I found myself more anxious about other drivers, more stressed about the roads and less excited about the trip. The trip back actually took less time than the trip to Calgary, but it felt longer… a lot longer.
Take some time to think about how the music you listen to makes you feel. Just like our bodies let us know when something we eat is not sitting well, so will your emotions let you know if what you are listening to is helping you or not. Listen to your heart and soul as you listen.
Philippians 4:7-8 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
When we focus on things that are true, honourable, and right, we experience God’s peace. I need God’s peace every day. I think that is why my trip to Calgary was so different than my trip back. It is not that the music I chose on the way back was bad, but it was not pure, lovely and admirable either.
Personal Note: Music is a huge part of our lives, ensure that the music you are listening to you is a benefit to you and not holding you back from the best life you could have. Take some time over the next week and really monitor how music makes you feel and how it affects your heart, it may be time to change out some of your music so that you can live life with your heart filled with joy and peace.