What can you do when you’re feeling tired and yucky from poor health — and struggling to not fly off the handle in anger at others, to not break down in tears for an hour, or to not have a panic attack?
What can you do when you know God’s Word tells you to be patient and loving, but because you’re sick or exhausted, you can’t seem to control your reactions toward others?
“And let the peace of Elohim rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one Body, and be filled with thanks. Let the Word of Messiah dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing with pleasure in your hearts to the Master in psalms and songs of praise and spiritual songs” (Colossians 3:15-16, ISR).
These verses tell us in simple terms how to have the peace of God rule in our hearts. One is to be filled with thanks, and another is to let God’s Word dwell in us richly. Yet for our purposes on this site, since we’re talking about restoring our health, I want to emphasize the musical portion at the end.
In 1 Samuel 16:23, we read that David’s harp playing brought great relief to the torment Saul experienced from an evil spirit. How much more relief can the music God created bring peace to your heart, when you’re filled with His Holy Spirit and His Word is dwelling in you richly.
Let’s qualify which kinds of music will help you:
- Music which encourages thankfulness. When you don’t feel well, you probably struggle with being thankful, yet a thankful spirit is key to being filled with God’s peace (see Philippians 4:6-9, Proverbs 15:15, and Psalm 107:22).
- Music which is rich in the Word of Christ. Classical music is nice and all, but when you’re sick, you need mega-doses of God’s Word!
- Music which helps you sing with pleasure. Not only should you listen to good music; you should also sing along — with pleasure! At the very least, you should sing along “in your heart” to God.
I have some favorite songs that I keep in a special folder on my mp3 player, just for times that I might need them. I keep my mp3 player in my apron pocket, with earphones. My alarm clock is also an mp3 player, plus I have an attachment for my CD player down in the school room. And of course, when I’m working here at the computer, I can get to my music easily.
Music really helps me feel better!
Of course — God said it would… 🙂
