Heart songs: The songs that my heart sings.
Lifestyles: The style of my life or the way I am living.
To help me get a better grasp of this edition’s theme, I needed to break up the words like I did above. Then, I just asked God to illuminate them some more because I wanted to write based on His wisdom not mine or the world’s. I even refused to check the dictionary. So, all you are about to read is from my heart as God put it there. I pray it speaks to someone.
The thoughts came to me in flashes. The song your heart is singing will dictate the way you live. You know how when you wake up in the morning with a particular song on your lips, it somehow has an impact on how that day will go? I believe the state of your heart will drive what thoughts you think, what words you speak and yes, what songs you sing. And just like we know that as a man thinks, so is he, I now see that what you sing can direct how you live.
Knowing this is really helpful because if we know how we want to live; what lifestyles we want, then we can work backwards to get the answer we want. I want to live a lifestyle of praise and gratitude to God. I want to live a life that pleases God. So how can I get my heart to help me with this? It’s so simple. Through my ears, I can flood my heart with songs that move my spirit in the direction of how I want to live. Praise songs! Worship songs! Hymns and songs that thank God! Of these, must my heart songs be made of!
For a while now, my chief desire has been to live 100% controlled by the Spirit of God. That is my desired lifestyle. So, apart from making confessions and commanding my day declaring it to be so, for the past two months or so, I listen to two songs back to back every day as I get ready for work. The first one is “Holy Ghost Air” by TY Bello and Nathaniel Bassey. The second one is Holy Spirit by Kari Jobe and her husband Cody Barnes. As much as possible, I try not to listen absent-mindedly. I listen with my heart. I allow the words wash over me; wash the insides of me and then begin to flow out of me in prayer. Today, these two songs have become my heart songs for a life lived more at the zero-level. Where Salt is ‘dead’ and the Holy Spirit is in charge.
What life do you want to live? How do you want to live? Does your playlist match your desires? Do the songs on your lips direct you in the right direction? I know what I suggest sounds so easy peasy but just humour me a little by trying it out. Over the next few weeks of your life, start your day with music that aligns with the kind of day you want to have. Listen to the songs till they fill your heart up and take you over. See, if it will not impact the quality of your day. The style of your life.
And hey! Even if your day does not bow to the music you listen to, guess who it will bow to? The Jesus Christ in you. Yes, in his name every situation must bow. So, fear not, if you have Jesus Christ, our True Heartsong on repeat play inside of you, a victorious and joy-filled lifestyle will be yours!
May Jesus Christ be your forever heart song!