For those who know me, music is my all (apart from God lah hehe). Without it, I just wouldn't be me at all. So why did God tell me to let go of something that was so important to me? Something that played such a major role in my life that I would be almost lifeless without..
This didn't just come up recently. The first time He told me was two years back. Kenaina let go of those that's not of me. First thing that came to my mind was my cds. avril. blink182. linkin park. Noooooooooo! (I've grown out of that music now but you know me then...) I compromised and instead of throwing them out, I put them away in a box, my 'scapebox', along with some other stuff. So now, ok my ori's are in a box. Bring on the fakes! Continued again all the way till last year. This pastor from India came to preach at our church and he said something about throwing away worldly music. My dad being my dad made all of us throw away those things, which I wasn't happy about. I thought, if I wanted to I should've done it in my own timing. Why did I have to follow what he said and take a step in my spiritual life when I wasn't ready for it? I was wrong. I decided to talk to Darren about it. If there was anyone that would understand what I was going through, it would be him.
Many other things happened but to cut the long story short, I was doing my quiet time this week.
Just to derive slightly, I love what our guest speaker said at church yesterday. I didn't get his name but he's from DUMC who apparantly has a tall, good-looking son, or so I heard *coughcoughceliiii* Anyhoooooooo, God is not that small minded. If you don't do your quiet time, he's not going to bring down fire on you. It's for YOU to get closer to God and that's how you can communicate with him. So you should only feel guilty about yourself not trying harder to get closer to God. Something along those lines la....
Anyway, yeah. I was doing my quiet time. And I read a devotional. Ah.. devotionals always come in at the right time *sigh* It was talking about music again. That we should be careful with what we listen to and all that. It brought back what God tried to tell me years ago. Guilt.
But I continued in my stubborness so I argued with God. "Why take away something that you've put in me to love so much? And what about other people? They're so far in their spiritual life yet you never told them to let go of it pun! It's not fair ba!" It went on and on and on....
I recently got into this song "I Kissed A Girl" by Katy Perry and I was humming it in the car on the way to music practice that night. I know... like such a hypocrite right? Then, suddenly God said to me "Those words in that song. Do you think it puts right images in peoples' minds? Does it come from me?" That made me shut up.. Sometime after that, somehow God reminded me of what I said about other poeple and why they can listen to secular music and I can't. He told me "Well, it's on their record. Not yours." And it suddenly hit me. I realised how directionless and self praising these songs were.
Can I just say this.. I LOVE GOD SPEAKING TO ME!!!! =))))))))
The following day, I continued on reading my bible and I came across this verse.
26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgement and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.
Hebrews 10:26-27
I don't even have to explain this part. God was telling me to once and for all to do what He said or I would have to expect what I knew was to come. So from there, all my cds original and fake, songs in my computer, gone. I have yet to delete the ones in my hard disk but I will! Sorry to all those who have burned cds for me but yeah.. did what I had to do, you know?
So I'm sharing this from my heart and I'm not telling anyone to do what I did but I post it as a challenge. This post wasn't to offend anyone either so if it has, sorry. But I do hope that it has somehow made you guys realise something. Long post, but it's worth it =)
11 comments:
Hehe,
good! I'm glad. there IS a big difference between secular music and those of God's. And even though certain bands only come up with 2 albums per year, it's the power of God that moves within the songs, unique every single time.
Secular songs paint an awful image of love and how expressive a human being should be.
But I admit that I still listen to them.
Keane
Yeah well I'm trying la.. really REALLY trying. its torture hahaha. for now la =)
awwww. what are you deleting?
i remember a nigerian pastor that came to eym once said the same thing. didn't give too much heed to it, since i thought i don't listen to very secular music. but then again, what IS secular music? hmmmm. ah well~ this was food for thought. thanks for getting me thinking thundie.
WHICH REMINDS ME, YOU DELETING BOYS LIKE GIRLS?! :( YOU CAN'T! IT'S YOUR SONG!
and and and last night i hummed that kate perry song and i thought of you. and i don't even like that song! :S
secular music. worldy music i guess. boys like girls IS secular my dear. haha... and katy perry too. very secular. hehe. having a hard time getting rid of augustana, stereophonics, kasabian..boys like girls yeah. arghhhH. if switchfoot was counted then i think i'd cry. mehh
wow. That is not easy. . May His Holy Spirit sustain you and gives you strength as you strive to live for God. God bless, girl
Hey...
good post. encouraging. Hmm... secular music. How is it different when we make music for God? The different is the HOLY SPIRIT. especially when we sing songs of praises to Him during our Sunday Service. The HS guides you and somehow connecting you with God.
Secular music, hmm.. I would say, careful of the lyrics lor. Some lyrics are good but have to be very careful as well.
You wanna get rid of Augustana, Stereophonics and Kasabians? I can hear your mama shouting mutely at you. hehhehehehhee....
I like the Hebrew verse... thanks!!
teck, thanks =)
amy, i can imagine what mama would say to me..
This is for Augustana! *SMACK!*
This is for Muse! *SMACK!*
And THIS IS FOR STEREOPHONICS!! *SMACK SMACK SMACK!* Hahahah.
and yeah i was thinking about being careful with the lyrics too. then i sorta thought, if we compromise and make excuses with the things we think we can get away with, how are we going to compromise and make excuses when we're face to face with a perfect God when we get to Heaven? I don't know.. that's what I think la..
referring to the first comment...
2 albums per year.....
is very very fast, definitely not slow.
Nonetheless.. I have a serious debate 'thought' about the whole issue of secular music..... but anyways.. interesting to know your new stand.
lol yeah, i know what secular music means. just thinking what would be counted as secular music. even though augustana, stereophonics aren't GODLY music but.. sigh. i dont know. a part of me wouldn't wanna give it up since to me it doesn't really paint a picture of 'girls have big tits and boys just like them for sex'.
flkhklasdjlkashdflkhkalfjasd im so confused.
Haha budak gemuk,
Don't get swayed! Keep going at it! It's good! Stay away from secular music!
haha..actually it is fast..two in a year..well...i mean..it's harder if you only listen to Christian music and get two albums only in a year. But, it's a lot of hard work in two albums, and they deserve only good credits for it.
ahaha
yeah i know marsh. that's kinda why im having such a hard time letting go of it, because i think you would know, i love brit bands. and plus their lyrics aren't all about sex and all that..
but then right, i remember ps john speaking at one of our youth services, and he mentioned sth like, why would the devil want to tempt you with something you don't like? that just defeats the whole purpose of temptation right? reminds me of this thing i watched about secular music too. the guy said that secular music, no matter how innocent it may look, when you look at it properly, it's just sugar-coated drugs. people think its ok because it makes them feel good, it LOOKS good. similarly, these types of music may get ur groove on, lyrics may be as innocent as it seems, but when you lay it all down, it is still counted as ungodly. after all, the word 'ungodly' means without God right? I think we all have said we want to surrender our WHOLE lives to God and let Him be the centre of EVERY aspect of our lives. And i'm thinking, if music is such a big part of me and if it really is that important, shouldn't I atleast let Him be the focus of it? Anything without God is just going down the drain anyway....
right?
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