The Effects of Music

Imagine if you will that your mattress was your brain and the frame of the bed was your skull...sounds weird? Well remember, we're imagining; so your brain is the mattress and the bed frame is your skull. Now lets bring music into the equation; the music will be the bed spread, sheets and the pillow case. Oh, I forgot the pillow....let's make the pillow your memory. Now lets run through it quickly: your brain is the mattress, the frame is your skull, the pillow is your memory while the comforter, sheets and pillow cases represent music. From the start we all understand that we do not need sheets, pillow cases or comforter to go to sleep. We have been conditioned over the years that we can not get a good night rest with out them. The truth of the matter is we actually can, but to be quite honest its hard to imagine sleeping peacefully without them. Now back to the topic of discussion...music impacts or influences our mind. Music is like that comforter, sheet and pillow case. It has a way of surronding itself around us and brining us comfort. Music is like a canvass with the picture already painted. Its intensity speaks without speaking, its colors scream without yelling. Like this painting on the canvass, so is music when it gets into our mind. Music ministers to our spirit and after we wrap ourselves in it we become one with the rhythm, the lyrics wrap themselves around our mind like a headband and it becomes injected into our memory like a sedative that relaxes every fiber of ones being. Music listeners become one with the music, so much so that they can hear the songs replaying in their minds while at work. What's interesting is the music that I once played through an electrical device is now silent...so how then am I hearing it replaying in my mind? True it is embedded in our memory, but I submit to you that its deeper than that. The music has gotten into our spirit. There is some truth to what Gloria Estevan said in her song titled, "The Rhythm is Going To Get You." Here's the interesting part you become what you say. What I mean by that is that eventually what you listen to (music specifically) 

will eventually be sung or uttered by you. It will become your words. Music has a way of invoking the image or intent of the writer into our minds. It no longer becomes the writers intent, it becomes our idea. We think about what we're thinking about. Once we cross that threshold we become more like what we have sung or uttered out of our own mouths. Music even has the potential to generate a false reality. I have seen several interviews of rap artist that state, they do not live what they rap. Frustrated over the false reality, it will then set in and ultimately the person or persons that is engulfed into the writers intent will try with all his or her might to bring the fictional portion into their reality. Music causes attitude shifts as well. For the Christian, the wrong music has the ability to block or hinder our prayer life. How so? When we try to worship or have prayer in our prayer closet, we're calling on the name of the Lord and back in the corner of our minds we here "All Eyes On Me" by Tupac. I am not bashing Tupac, but what I am saying is  music can be and will be used by satan to distract us when trying to pray or worship. I often say what you put in is what will come out and often at the wrong time. One day I prayed and asked God about secular music and if its ok for me to listen to. Now before I tell you what He revealed to me let me just say that this is the type of relationship I have with Jesus. I ask Him what He thinks. Not only is He my savior, He's the Lord of my life. I have learned over the years that if you ask God, He will speak. After asking God the question about secular music here's what He revealed to me, "If it does not glorify my name, don't listen to it." Music is powerful....think about it before you let the sound and lyrics of music minister to your soul!

Asking and Telling

The other day I was watching television and I noticed that our 12 year old was up passed her bedtime listening to music, reading and on the computer (all at the same time). I got up from where I was, went to her and reminded her of her bedtime. After giving her the reminder I was surprised at her response. "Daddy, I'm reading, not on the computer." Struggling to understand her response, I became upset and said, young lady, turn off the music, turn off the computer, put the book away and good night." She did as I asked and headed to her bedroom. Shortly thereafter she walked to the kitchen to get a drink of water. I asked her to come over. She wasn't exactly the happiest person; she sat by me and I asked, "Why are you upset?" She said, "Daddy I wasn't on the computer, I was actually reading, I like listening to music when I read, it makes it easier." I hugged my daughter, kissed her on the forehead and said, "If you had asked me if it was ok to stay up beyond your bedtime, I would have allowed you to. Instead you began to tell me what you were doing and what you would continue to do. If you had only asked, my response would have been different." We embraced again, she smiled and returned to her bedroom. Later that evening I was taking a shower and I got a revelation from my interaction with my daughter. I realized that in the relationship I have with Jesus, I do to Him what my daughter did to me. I began to realize my error in prayer and fasting as well as overall obedience to God. I thought about a scripture, "If you ask anything in my name, I will do it" (John 14:14). I realized that I never really asked God for things, instead I have been telling God what I am going to do. Have you ever done that? We often tell God what we're going to do, then ask Him to bless our plan. Sadly, we treat God as if He was a genie in a bottle that must grant us three wishes. When we do this we create a level of frustration ~ it becomes about our agenda and what we want, when we want and how we want it. Asking changes or shifts the atmosphere and places God on the throne of our hearts and places us in the position of servant. Our dependence should be in Him....He alone is God, and is ready and willing to help...for the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in lack! God is our source and everything else is but a resource....its not about telling God what we are going to do and demanding him to do something about it, but rather asking Him, stepping aside and watching Him do exceedingly, abudantly, far above what we ask or think!