Music: More Than Just a Beat

So, let’s talk about something we all love and can totally relate to: Music. Where words fail, music speaks, right? It's amazing how a song can lift our spirits and make us feel understood. But have you ever thought about how the music you listen to can affect you as a person?

Music is everywhere—in your car, at the grocery store, even in the elevator at the doctor's office. Sometimes, we don't even notice it until we put on our headphones and get lost in the tunes. While music is awesome, not all of it is good for us to listen to. The brain is powerful, and when you listen to something a lot, you start to believe the words and your actions can reflect what you're hearing. Crazy, right? But it's true! It is a known fact that music activates various parts of the brain, including the hippocampus and amygdala,(look it up) which are involved in emotional responses and memory. This means that repeated exposure to certain types of music can reinforce specific emotions and thoughts.

Just like the saying "we are what we eat," we are influenced by what we hear repeatedly. Philippians 4:8 says, "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Now, can we honestly say that the music we love so much represents these qualities? Probably not.

As a teenager, I get it—the struggle of finding music that sounds good, has a great beat, and can turn your frown upside down is real. But here’s something to think about: the lyrics of the songs we love can have a big impact on us, even if we dont realize it at first. So, here's your challenge: take your favorite song, print out the lyrics, and read them out loud. Then, evaluate how you feel about the song. Do you still like it? What is the song really saying? Is it a positive message? Does it glorify God? Is it uplifting your spirit, or is it degrading, sexual, or encouraging you to go against God's will?

This exercise can be eye-opening, and you'll probably find out that a lot of your favorite songs have messages that don't really vibe with God's word, your faith, or your values. So give it a try and share your thoughts.

Written by: Ty Goss