Momentum For Monday, May 23rd 2022

“Singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart is like taking someone’s coat in cold weather or pouring vinegar in a wound.” (Proverbs 25:20)

Any success I've ever accomplished in my adult life is due to learning how to handle my soul. I do not exaggerate in the least when I say that I was recklessly and restlessly dangerous in my head and heart. God intervened in my life at a perfect time. I've wrestled with Him since, but He always wins and I gain another lesson learned (His loving grace really astounds me).

One of the key things I've learned in handling my soul is what I am sensitive to. I love music and have some gifting there, but it's not just a gift that God has given me. Music impacts the soul of generally everyone. It can lift or lower a mood easily. It's why we play upbeat music when we're happy and vice versa. Because music is influential to the soul, we need to be aware of what we listen to and when.

Hear me clearly- I'm not telling you to assign a ruleset of what you will listen to and what you will ban from your life. Rules never work as well as wisdom does, which is what I am inferring. Implement wisdom to guard your heart.

If I'm especially tired, cranky, or emotional, then I guard what music I'm playing at work or in my car. I'll lean more towards worship music than usual or play a podcast or sermon instead. Little decisions like this will draw big dividends over time (at least for me it has).

Try to be aware of your feelings, moods, or thoughts. Catching ourselves at the beginning of a funk and leaning into some prayer, worship, and Scripture can save us from spiraling further. You may not be able to prevent all heavy-heartedness from occurring, but you can prevent from making it worse.

“What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.”

(1 Corinthians 14:15)