Music to the Soul?
All day I've been learning an acoustic song by Andy Mckee. It's a weird little song where he uses the guitar as a percussion instrument and uses both hands to play notes on the fretboard. It's definately something I've nevered endevoured to do, but that's why I picked it up I guess. The challenge. As I progressed further and further through the song I realized something; the challenge was what fueled me to do it. The pure excitement of seeing how far I could push myself was fueling me to progress in the song. And then it REALLY hit me: this lacks from my spiritual walk.
My spiritual walk has gotten more intimate with God over the last few weeks than it ever has been, but at the same time the challenge of complete purity hasn't lured me into growing closer to God. Why is it that a musical challenge can consume me, yet a spiritual challenge I might overlook. Mental purity, speech purity. They're deeper challenges than anything I've faced with music. It's fueling me right now to want to get up and challenge others with the same thing. We push our bodies so far, we push the limits with our talents, but what about our spirituality? How far and how hard are we going with it? Are we truly gritting our teeth and diving into the Word and the Life that we're to live or are we ignoring the greatest challenge of all, holiness?
Me and Kevin have decided to write down a list of all things we need to consider about the way we live on a daily basis and what needs to change in order to be closer to God. The way we talk, the people we hang out with, the things we watch on TV, the websites we visit... it all has to be evaluated and if something is out of line, it should be changed. One reason I watch the Disney Channel so much is that it's a great alternative to what else is on TV. So what if the plot lines are cheesy? It's still not infecting my heart with images that will imbed themselves into my brain and haunt me. What about the way I talk? Are there any offensive things I say on a daily basis that might hurt my witness for Christ? The answer is: yes. I don't curse, but taming the tongue goes MUCH farther than just profanity. Making fun of people, even if they are my closest friends, should cease to be something that's on my lips. Although said in a joking manner, it could cut deep into their emotions. Not that I'll become a total stiff or anything, that's the last thing that I want to accomplish, but I don't want anything I say to come in between me and my witness for Christ.
Challenges have always been something I love to face. There's nothing quite like staring down a task that seems nearly impossible to accomplish and finishing it. The way I live my life needs to be a constant challenge to live the way Christ did. I'm getting closer and closer to the finish line as I live my life, so I might as well go faster and harder towards the prize.
Jesus has set the ultimate challenge in front of me: total purity of the mind, body, and spirit. It's time to step up and engage the obsticles that come my way with determination and comfort in knowing that Jesus is right by my side.
May you live your life in purity and live above reproach in all aspects of your walk. Have a blessed day.