Skip to Main Content
Women of the ELCA
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Daily Grace
  • Contact
  • Ministry & Action
    • Discipleship
    • Justice
      • Human Trafficking
      • Racial Justice Advocacy
      • Racial Justice Advocacy Network resources
      • Domestic Violence
    • Membership
    • Stewardship
      • Thankofferings
      • Faithful Friends
      • Katie’s Fund
      • Gift Planning
    • Special Initiatives
      • Raising Up Healthy Women & Girls
      • Dear Friend in Christ
    • Scholarships
      • Lutheran laywomen
      • Lutheran Ordained Ministry
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Events
  • About
    • History
    • Executive Board
    • Staff
    • Get Involved
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Daily Grace
  • Contact
« Back to WELCA Blog

Meeting God in Music
by Guest blogger

2.20.2012
|
Post

I visited a friend’s congregation recently and heard a message that has stayed on my mind. It was part of a sermon series called “God and my iPod” and the pastor was talking about how sometimes a song will get stuck in one’s mind. He suggested that maybe the Holy Spirit is trying to tell you something through that song, even if it’s secular music that has no mention of God or faith or anything spiritual. Or maybe the song is speaking to something in you that you haven’t yet realized—a longing or fear or hope that is buried deep in your heart.

The sermon really made me reflect.  Like many in my generation, I love music, especially rock and roll. I thought about the handful of songs on my iPod that I can listen to again and again. I thought about how sometimes as soon as a particular song is over, I want to hear it again. When I was a kid, I had a junky turntable record player and my brother and I listened to the same albums (remember those?) over and over… I can still make him laugh by calling him on the phone and singing the first few lyrics of “These Boots Are Made for Walking” or the “Ballad of the Green Beret.” Music was a bond and a source of discovery.

So now as I listen to my favorite playlists, I’m trying to be aware of why those songs have such appeal to me, of how God might be trying to reach me through them. I’m also listening with new ears—is there something in this song that expresses some deeper thought or desire or yearning in my heart? If I had to select a 10-song soundtrack for my life, what would it include?

I feel the same affection for certain hymns. As soon as I hear the opening notes, my heart feels like it’s swelling up and I can’t wait to begin to sing. Now that we’re in Lent, I know that I’ll hear hymns that I’ve been missing during the other less somber church seasons. I love Lenten hymns like “O Sacred Head Surrounded” and “Forty Days and Forty Nights.”

What about you? Do you have songs that you love to hear over and over? Are there pieces of music that draw you closer to something transcendent? How do you use music to strengthen your spiritual life?

The music-loving Kate Elliott is editor of Gathermagazine.

 

Share
No Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Categories

  • Post (1,262)
  • News (295)
    • Gathering 2021 (9)
    • Triennial Convention 2021 (7)
  • Devotions (76)
  • 2122 (3)
  • Uncategorized (2)
Women of the ELCA
27 Mar
Women of the ELCA
@WomenoftheELCA

As part of @WomenoftheELCA’s #WomensHistoryMonth observance last year, we talked with the authors of Voices Long Silenced: Women Biblical Interpreters through the Centuries. One year later, we revisit the book’s publication w/ @schroeder_joy. womenoftheelca.org/blog/post/…

Expand reply reply retweet retweet favorite favorite
Back to home

8765 W. Higgins Rd.

Chicago IL 60631

800-638-3522

[email protected]

Stay In Touch

Sign up for the WELCA Newsletter

Explore WELCA
  • Ministry & Action
  • Daily Grace
  • Resource Library
  • Events
  • Blog
  • News
  • About WELCA
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Photos
Explore Publications

Bold Cafe

A Lutheran perspective for women of Christian faith or any woman who is interested in how faith relates to the issues facing women today.

Gather Magazine

A mix of articles, theological reflections, devotions and stories of comfort and challenge that help readers grow in faith.

Cafe Podcast

Subscribe to our podcast:

Click to subscribe

© Copyright 2023 Women of the ELCA. All Rights Reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
© Copyright 2023 Women of the ELCA. All Rights Reserved.