You may or may not have heard the phrase: “music is the language of the emotions.”
I remember being told this in my high school choir, but it was not until years later that I understood what that fully meant.
Growing up, music was just music. I learned songs on the piano. We sang about different composers in music class. And we sang hymns in church. But recently, my perspective on music has shifted.
Instead of just listening to music to fill the time in the car or to listen while cleaning my room, music started to affect how I perceived the world. Not in a super dramatic way, but in a way that over time, I saw my outlook on life start to shift.
I was challenged by my Sunday school leader to start each day with something focused on God. So, instead of listening to the popular hits each morning, I would listen to Christian music. I know it might seem a little crazy, but it started to affect me too! What we consume through any type of media has the power to change us. The music we listen to, the shows we watch, the articles we read, the people we follow—every single one of these can alter your mood and your outlook on life.
Today, I know that when I have a bad day, instead of playing the song “Bad Day” (by Daniel Powter), I turn on something that points my mind towards things above—towards Christ. I want the media that I consume to honor God. I want my mind to drift towards the more important.
Will I continue to watch my favorite TV shows? Yes.
Will I still jam out to “Bad Day” every once and a while? Yes.
But when I see my thoughts drifting or my mood shifting, I will always run back to the one who saved my soul.
clutter to can 