Who Are You Listening To?

As I turned on the Spotify playlist, my eleven-year-old daughter rolled her eyes. “I had that song in my head all day yesterday!”

I smiled. That’s exactly the point, I thought.

She may not realize it, but I carefully choose each song in our morning playlist. I intend their messages to get into her head even if she isn’t consciously listening.

My sweet girl is a full-fledged tween. This stage comes equipped with hormones, friendship drama, and awkwardness in abundance. Mix this with a chronic sickness she has been battling for months, and we have a recipe for one sad, grumpy, overwhelmed little girl.

I began to look for ways to encourage her. I knew she was confronted throughout her day with the voices of the world telling her she isn’t smart enough or cool enough or pretty enough. And I knew her struggles would amplify those messages. I wanted her to hear my voice—and more importantly, God’s voice—above the din.

So I started with the playlist. One by one, I chose songs to speak life and encouragement to her. I avoided messages that were too syrupy sweet. I’ll be honest, when I’m in a bad mood, messages like “Isn’t life just the best!” only make me angry. I chose songs that acknowledge our struggles while still communicating hope, songs that encourage bravery and perseverance. And I prayed and waited.

Slowly I began to see a change. While she still came downstairs for breakfast looking defeated, my daughter started to thaw as the morning progressed. She would hum. She would chat with me about the day ahead. She would smile.

Of course, the playlist wasn’t the only change I made. Before she left for school each day, I put my arm around her and whispered a quick prayer in her ear. When she auditioned for a solo in choir, I praised her courage. I regularly remind her God has a purpose for her, and I point out when I see him at work in her life.

Having a song stuck in her head hasn’t made the difference in my daughter’s life. Filling her mind and heart over and over with voices of hope—voices of truth has.

The voices of the world are loud and constant. They tell us we aren’t good enough or smart enough. We hear we’re too fat, too thin, too focused on our career, too focused on family. If we listen to these voices, we’ll be stuck in an endless cycle of striving and failing.

So maybe it’s time to change our playlist. We must tune out the messages from the world—and sometimes from ourselves—and tune in to the truth. Our hearts and minds should be filled with God’s voice.

How do we start? Here are a couple of my favorite ways:

• Change the tune. Just as I did for my daughter, create a playlist that communicates hope and let it fill your ears. You’ll be amazed how those messages stick with you.
• Stop negativity in its tracks. Negative thoughts tend to snowball. I can’t believe I dropped that plate and broke it. I am so clumsy! I am constantly wrecking things. I am so worthless. When you see these patterns emerging, stop and look for what is true. I can’t believe I dropped that plate and broke it. I am so frustrated with myself, but I know it’s not really a big deal. I’m thankful no one is hurt, and a dish is easily replaced.
• Practice gratitude. Take just a few minutes each day to write down what you’re thankful for. Not only will you develop a habit of looking for the positive, you’ll soon find yourself with a great list to encourage you on a bleak day.
• Use positive God talk. Positive self-talk never worked well for me. I could always tell when I was lying to myself. Instead, I write down Bible verses and carry them with me or stick them in conspicuous places in my house. I know God’s Word is true, so I can trust what he says about me and his love for me.

Who are you choosing to listen to today? Will you passively take in the messages of the world? Or will you actively pursue God’s voice of truth?

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Katy Epling is a writer, speaker, and “masterpiece in progress” (Ephesians 2:10) from Akron, Ohio. She and her husband Jon have three beautiful children who provide her with multitudes of material—both dramatic and comedic. Learn more about her heart and ministry at katyepling.com.

Photograph © Alice Moore, used with permission