WEEK TWO: DROP THE BEAT

On November 10, 2001, Apple Inc. released its first version of its portable media player known as the iPod. As of 2022, the company had sold an estimated 450 million iPod products. This product allowed its user to download music, podcasts, videos, and more electronically so that you could carry your media right in your pocket without the need for CDs, tapes, or other types of media.

I pulled my old iPod out the other day and opened it to the music menu. One of the options given there is the playlist option. I had a couple of playlists there that were default ones set up by the manufacturer, but for the most part my playlists were ones that I set up specifically for my likes and tastes. There is one that is strictly worship music. Another list was music by my favorite artists. There were playlists set up for different genres of music, and even one that I had titled “My Time” featuring popular music that I listened to when I was growing up. Although each playlist was different, the common denominator in each list was that the songs on that list meant something to me.

Just like the playlist on your device, your mind has a playlist of its own. It is made up of memories and thoughts, your hopes and dreams, your fears and your worries, and it plays itself over and over in your mind on a regular basis.  However, this is one place where we have control over what we dwell on and think about. You can choose what you want to spend your time thinking on. The negative and destructive thoughts do not have to have the ability to consume our minds because God wants to renew our minds. In Romans 12:2 it says, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” (NLT)

The apostle Paul then tells us how to do this in Philippians 4:8. “And now dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” (NLT) 

So, what is playing on the playlist of your mind right now? How do you have to change your thinking so that what is being played are the things that Paul mentioned in Philippians 4? It’s your choice! Let God renew your thinking today and let your playlist be one that is excellent and worthy of praise.