Tuesday, March 7, 2023
“Listen to Church Music”
Who needs to hear something inspirational today?
Is everyone raising their hands? Probably not. Though many listen to church songs daily, a few of us struggle to begin the day without other types of tunes. It’s not that church music is bad…in fact, lots of it is really fantastic. Strong melodies, catchy choruses, and beautiful voices are very pleasant to hear. The lyrics, which are written to inspire and give hope to people, are exactly what the world needs to hear. So why the hesitancy?
For those of us who indulge in other kinds of music, the hesitancy of this challenge may originate from our own preferences. We like what we like and we don’t want to change. Our favorite music, whether pop, country, blues, stage musicals, rap, or head-banging hard rock, can also provide us with hope and inspiration. However, we have to admit, in order for many of those songs to deliver a positive message, we’re gonna have to stretch the truth a bit.
Church music, whether popular Christian artists, Gospel choirs, high-church instrumentals, or Gregorian Chants, puts us in a place of contemplation and reflection. Oh, church music doesn’t always make us happy, but it almost always puts us in the position of receiving something hopeful and healthy.
Today’s Challenge has no time requirement. You can listen for five minutes or five hours. That part is up to you. But consider stretching beyond your normal attention span. Let’s demonstrate to God that we can stretch beyond our own needs for just a little while. We might discover something new and beautiful about ourselves and God’s work in our lives.
“I’ve thrown myself headlong into your arms— I’m celebrating your rescue. I’m singing at the top of my lungs, I’m so full of answered prayers.” (Psalm 13:5-6, The Message)
