We’re continuing our study of the building blocks. Have you completed your Soul Care Plan for 2017? Soul Care Plan Link
Today’s topic is “?”, the Mystery Block.
Today’s scripture: What might God be saying to me?
2 Samuel 6:5
David and all the house of Israel were dancing before the Lord with all their might, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals.Ephesians 5:18b-20
Be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
My thoughts (Melody Merida):
I love music! I mean, I really LOVE music. (My name is Melody, after all.) Music has the power to move me in unexplainable ways. When we’re sad, sometimes the best therapy can be singing along with a great country ballad. When we’re happy, there is nothing like an upbeat rock anthem to put us over the top! Music has the power to act as both a healing elixir and a joyful expression.
But I haven’t always felt this connection to music. Growing up I believed that most music was sinful — particularly music with heavy drum beats and loud guitar riffs! Anything outside the bounds of conservative gospel music was off limits for fear that it would pull me away from God. That meant that even Christian music staple Amy Grant was taboo because her music was too much like pop music. These strict guidelines didn’t leave many options for me musically.
Based on that information, you can better imagine my surprise when I found myself smack dab in the middle of a Christ encounter while listening to music by an artist named Jennifer Knapp. Yes, it’s true that her music is labeled Christian music; but she is not the type of Christian musician I grew up listening to! When I first heard her song, “Hold Me Now”, it was as if Jesus and I were having this intimate conversation. For several minutes I just listened over and over again while I experienced such phenomenal connection to God. It was awesome!
This experience and others like it (Indigo Girls concerts, dancing in the living room to the music of Sugarland, dancing with the people of Sudan to all types of music, finding comfort in the heart-wrenching lyrics of a Patty Griffin song) remind me that I serve a God who delights in variety. There are no limits to the ways God can communicate with us. So, why do so many of us continue to think so narrowly about how to grow in Jesus Christ?
Our church offers classes where we study several “building blocks” that can help us live up to our spiritual potential. One of the blocks we suggest is a question mark. This isn’t because we ran out of worthy ideas; it is intentional. Why? Because we all have different ways that we can make a Christ connection — one size doesn’t fit all.
Music happens to be my question mark block, but I recognize that it might not be yours. That’s okay. The important thing is to find the things that work for you.
Thought for the day: What is it that brings you into the presence of Jesus Christ? Let that become a part of your plan for soul growth.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.