Volume 51: Rest in Soundtracks

DID YOU KNOW? An average person listens to over 1.3 MILLION SONGS in their lifetime???? 

First off, it's wild how many songs there are.... 

Second off, it's wild how many I will listen to....

Third off, it's wild how many songs we remember the lyrics to...

The other day, I was listening to a random Spotify playlist of songs from the 2000's and started singing all of the lyrics to these songs that I haven't listened to in years... 

Even Blake now knows all the lyrics to the Frozen and Moana and Encanto songs!

I know people have studied this topic and there's something about rhythm and repetition that causes us to store these songs in our brains...

All that to say, I have been thinking about how SMART our minds are... And without proper care of them, they can be somewhat dangerous. 

I recently just read Jon Acuff's book, Soundtracks: The Surprising Solution To Overthinking. To be honest, the book itself wasn't written very well but the overall theme is something I continue to think about. I purchased this book because he was a guest speaker on Andy Stanley's leadership podcast, and I do recommend listening to that!

Our mind is full of "soundtracks," repeating themselves in our head allll day long. And in our flesh alone, these are typically instinctively negative.  And left to our own devices, we start to believe these things as true. 

I am misunderstood and my family will never get me. 
I am not made for my job. 
I am not worthy to be loved. 
I will never be able to write a book. 
I am not good at making friends.
Life will never be as good as it was.

You name it, we all have our own. The book challenged me to recognize the negative soundtracks that I listen to. 

And that was the easy part... What isn't easy is the next step: to replace the soundtrack with truth! And actually believe the truth! In many of the podcasts I listen to or books I read, there are moments when they address EXACTLY how I feel. Yet, there is something in me that still thinks "Yeah but MY situation is different." Well, that's silly... 

So I went to Scripture to list out some truths as a reminder of the soundtracks that God wants us to listen to. 

I am loved. 
I am chosen.
I am enough.
I am forgiven.
I am a friend of Jesus. 
I am exactly how God made me to be.
I am worthy. 
I am filled with the Holy Spirit. 
I am a masterpiece. 

And the list goes on and on! May we never become numb to the truths that God speaks over us, His beloved children. 

This feels like a new Christian thing to do - very "elementary school" if you will. However, this is a season where I need repetition. Where I need to be reminded of the simple gospels and be brought back to the basics of faith. To not get caught up in the weeds, but remain faithful and continue to learn to trust Him. 

Speaking of repetition, Acuff has written a list of affirmations that he calls "The New Anthem" and he challenges the readers to read it out loud, in front of a mirror, every morning and night. And here I am, on day 12... am I lame?? Maybe so!! But I will say, there is definitely something to it. Throughout the day, I have found myself starting to think of these affirmations, not necessarily in certain contexts but just randomly. And that in of itself is a win! To have positive soundtracks! 

And I've begun to create my own, adding different phrases that have been foundational in my walk with God in the years:

Life is a gift and the giver is good.
Unexpressed gratitude is received as ingratitude.
God doesn't call the equipped; he equips the called. 
The DNA of joy is gratitude.

God is always working for my good.

My worth is found in Jesus alone. 

Who before do. Why before what.

We never know when God is packing ingredients for a miracle. 

God doesn't call us to understand; He calls us to obey. 

Don't let your worry be louder than your worship. 

The best things in life are a result of faithfulness. 

Change is the only thing constant in this life. 

May these be the things I cling to! May I be quick to train my mind on Scripture and truth and positivity! To be able to rebuke the enemy when he attempts to make me believe lies, just as Jesus did in the desert. 

We read the story of Peter walking on water this week in the gospel study. 

So Peter got out of the boat and walked on water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

I know you all know this story, but as always, when reading Scripture, it can teach me new things, depending on my present state. So in this season, as I read this passage, I related to Peter. In the way he is attempting to remain focused on Jesus, as he is watching Jesus do a miracle right in front of him (walking on water). Yet, I am so prone to allow the distractions, the winds, the negative soundtracks to take my focus off of Jesus. 

But may I not be of little faith! May I keep my eyes locked on Him and trust Him fully. Yet, also find grace and rest in the truth that He is always ready to reach out and lift us up. 

In an ideal world, I would be able to have a private playlist of my hand picked soundtracks in my brain, free of negativity and free of distractions. Yet, the reality is that we live in a broken world with an enemy that is constantly trying to win us over. Therefore, I will continue to identify any broken soundtracks that have been wrongly added to my playlist and replace them with truth! Amen. 

One of the biggest takeaways from the books was when Acuff talked about the secret of overthinking - I don't have the book with me so I cannot quote it exactly but here's some paraphrasing: Often times, we are looking for a switch to turn off our overthinking. However, it's not a switch... It's a dial and we just have to find the ways to turn down the volume when our overthinking gets too loud. 

So this week, as we notice negative soundtracks getting louder, let's turn them down and turn up the volume of the truths!!! Amen.