By Kristen Entwistle

Music has always been a part of my life.  I began playing piano when I was in grade school, and still play to this day.  I’m not very good, but now I mainly play so that I can sing.  Singing has always been a part of my life, too.  My parents like to tell the story that they knew I was going to be able to sing when I could sing ‘Jesus Loves Me’ on key at the age of five.  I began learning how to play the flute when I was in fifth grade, taking to it like a fish takes to water.  I loved it.  I loved playing the simple melodies and the complex runs.  In high school, I was a part of the musicals in the pit orchestra and the chorus, I played piccolo in the marching band, flute in the symphonic band, and piano and flute in the jazz bands.  I even tried my hand at playing the alto clarinet when I ended up in Freshman band as a junior.

Perhaps it isn’t surprising with my musical background that songs tend to stick in my head and stay there.  I memorize song lyrics without even trying to.  Memorizing Bible verses is harder for me, but something that I’m working on. 

I think that’s part of why listening to Christian music is so important to me.  If the lyrics are going to stick in my head, permeate my vocabulary and influence my actions, they’d better be good lyrics – true, trustworthy, lovely and perfect.  Don’t get me wrong.  I don’t think secular music is bad.  I don’t think that you should never listen to it.

But for me, if I’m going through a rough time, I’d rather have the lyrics of 10,000 Reasons running through my head than All about that bass. 

When a particular song gets stuck in my head, usually God has something to teach me through it.  Lately, Casting Crowns’ song Dream for you has been stuck in my head.

I don’t put much stock in dreaming.  Mostly because I find that the dreams (as in hopes and aspirations) I have end up getting squashed by the world or by other people.  Perhaps that’s why I didn’t particularly like it the first few times I heard it.  Then I actually started listening.

The song talks about David, his dreams of being a ‘big-time shepherd someday.’  But God had bigger plans for him than shepherding sheep.  David was going to the shepherd king, the one on whom the lineage of Jesus rested.  The song talks about Mary, who dreamed of having a family.  But God had bigger plans for her: raising a king.  Makes me wonder what kind of dreams God has for me.

Because if I allow myself, I do have dreams.  But I’ve got it through my head somehow that if I allow myself to dream, I will just end up disappointed.  And then I remember that God’s got a plan.  He’s got the whole thing worked out – I just have to be willing to let go and let Him work.  I just have to be willing to say, “God, do with me and my life what you will.  I’m willing to live all of my life for you.  Not my will, but yours be done.”  It’s a decision I have to make daily.  One that is easier on some days than others.  But His dreams, His plans, are better than mine, no matter how good I think mine are.  I think I’ll let Him dream for me.  Because He is good, all the time, in every circumstance, through every high and every low, and He is faithful.

I’m stronger than you think I am
I’ll take you farther than you think you can
You sing and call me Great I Am
So take your stand
My child, if you only knew
All the plans that I have for you
Just trust me, I will follow through
You can follow Me

Maybe God doesn’t reveal things to you through songs.  Maybe it’s through Bible study books or direct study in His Word.  Maybe it’s through conversations with others or the weekly sermon you hear.  But regardless of where you hear God speaking, dwell on it.  Think about it.  Wrestle with it.  Talk about it with trusted friends.  And then share it with others.  Because what God taught you or revealed to you may be something that others need to hear too.

What’s God teaching you today?