One day when I was in Colombia (the last country of my trip), I had randomly discovered a new Christian artist. His name is John Mark Pantana and the first song of his that I heard is called “Abba”. When I heard this song I wanted to look up the rest of his songs right away. It was evening time and my group was just making dinner at our Airbnb. I sat in my room quietly and as I was listening to this music, immediately I felt ushered into the presence of the Holy Spirit. It was a very blissful moment and I thought to myself, “where has this guys music been this whole time?!” I absolutely love it.
Later on in the week I was reminded of this music and decided to listen to the whole album. It was late at night and as I got to one song called “Silent War” about a guy with depression who then found new hope and joy in Jesus, I was reminded of an old friend from high school who had been struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts. Throughout the years he would make open posts about it on Facebook and I would see them and pray for him from time to time. That night there was no Facebook post. I was simply reminded of him after listening to this song. Then, I heard God speak very clearly to me. He said, “Lindsay, send him this song”… But it was two o’clock in the morning! I thought, “what will this guy think of me reaching out to him for the first time in years about some random song at two o’clock in the morning???” As I wrestled with God in my head about whether or not to send him the song I heard another still… small… voice. This time, it was the voice of one of my squad-mates that did a teaching earlier in the year on this topic and it said, “delayed obedience is disobedience”. So then I knew I had to obey the voice of God and send this old friend that song. I knew somehow or in some way it would touch his heart. So I obeyed God and sent him the song that night. He wrote back to me the next morning and said how it meant a lot to him that I reached out. He said that he had been struggling for a long time from past hurts. He even said his mom was a reverend at a church but due to some hurts from fellow Christians he had been turned off from the church. He has let all these things build up in his life and that has led to more depression and at times, suicidal thoughts. I wanted to show him that not only do I care about him and his life but that there is a God in heaven who cares about his life and has a plan for him. I shared that the enemy would want to come and lie to him, giving him these suicidal thoughts but that it’s not the truth and he shouldn’t listen to the lies in his head. I told him about my own struggles and how I know it’s not easy but that God has a bigger plan. If anything, I told him I would be there for him if he ever needed anyone to talk to and he has since reached out to me multiple times. He was even suicidal again one night and I was able to be there for him all the way from Colombia. I just kept speaking truths to him and whether he wanted to listen or not, he heard those truths. Who knows, I could have saved a life just by being obedient to the voice of God.
~God speaks through music~
Another week had passed and I was reminded of my favorite music again. I listened to it before bed one night and my favorite song called “Grace” came on. I was reminded of my love for dance and could imagine myself dancing to the lyrics of this song. There is a slower part in the beginning of the song and then there is a rap section. I could imaging doing both contemporary and hip dance to it!! I got so excited and started having a vision of myself doing this dance in a studio and it being recorded on video. Then I thought, “what studio am I going to dance in?” For the past year God has been planting in me new ideas to start a business along with doing my doctoring but I had not yet known what type of business to do. When I listened to that song and imagined doing a dance to it, God spoke to me through it. He showed me I could start my own dance studio and that could be the business I start! I was so excited I looked up more information on it until three o’clock in the morning! Finally, a business that I’m passionate about and would thrive in, and to think this all came about just by listening to one of my favorite songs. I was so excited I shared the news with my old dance teacher, Lisa. I also shared it with Cindy, the lady who owns the performing arts school at my church where I used to dance. I know this dream will still take a few years to manifest, but with hard work and determination I am excited to see where God will take it. I learned this month how much God speaks to me through music.
Lastly, I wanted to mention that right around the time I noticed God speaking to me so much through music, a new music album came out that may have taken the world by surprise. Kanye West, former secular rapper had released his new album called “Jesus is King” on October, 25th. Kanye had recently been born again and now he speaks openly to the world about his testimony of how God saved him. He has a HUGE following and is now reaching so many for Christ through his music. I have even heard reviews on his new album stating that some of his songs share the gospel more powerfully and directly than most sermons given in church. Talk about INFLUENCE!! This just inspires me so much and makes me want to use my gifts in music for God’s glory. Going forward, I’m excited to continue to develop my talents in song-writing, singing, leading worship, and see where that may take me as well.
Yes, indeed:
~God speaks through music~
Below is one of my new favorite songs that I mentioned called “Grace” by John Mark Pantana. It’s the song that birthed in me the dream of opening my own dance studio one day. It’s a perfect representation of how God speaks through music and how a life can be changed for the better by knowing the beautiful gift God brings us. The gift of Salvation and Grace. “The GOSPEL is GRACE”. Please listen to the lyrics of this song and be blessed.
