I love good music. What “good” means to me, of course, may not fit your idea at all. I grew up during the Seventies, in many ways, although I was already twenty-one when the decade started. A large part of my record collection consists of albums by my favorite Seventies groups, from CCR to Three Dog Night to Fleetwood Mac. I loved just getting lost in the sounds; I could vegetate for hours in front of a pair of good stereo speakers. In my younger days, and in many of my not so young days, music was one of my two passions.

Reading was the other one. I’ve shared with some of you before that reading provided an escape for me, a pathway to worlds where I could get away for a while from the pain of everyday life. I particularly enjoyed stories about far away places, imaginary or real. Once I read J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, I was hooked on fantasy. Give me a thick book about elves and goblins and fairies and you wouldn’t see for the next day or two.

Although I still enjoyed music and reading as I got older, I lost much of my passion for them. Instead, I discovered new ones. I became a bona fide TV addict. For hours and hours I would sit in front of the boob tube, not necessarily enjoying or remembering anything I watched. Television was a substitute for human interaction, and something that required no thought or commitment. When video games came along, I embraced them with some enthusiasm because I could actually interact with the great incandescent god. Soon afterward, I got my first computer, and all bets were off. Not only could I interact with this new toy, but I could actually do my own thing. I dabbled in writing programs for a while, but that required too much thought.

It wasn’t that the computer in our home served no useful purpose. I did use it to manage my checking account, and at times it made a dandy typewriter. For someone who can neither write nor type very well, the idea of a word processor which would let me correct mistakes to my heart’s content, and even correct some for me, was little short of miraculous. I wrote both of my novels and numerous other documents on my trusty PC. Then, later, of course, came the Internet, and the Web….

None of these activities is inherently bad. There are certainly bad songs, bad books, and bad TV shows which can corrupt anyone that indulges in them. Even beautiful music, great literature, and wholesome television, though, can coarsen and cheapen our relationship with God. If we seek entertainment for its own sake, or enjoy our music or reading more than our time with the Lord, we’re headed for deep spiritual trouble. God describes himself as a jealous God, and if we love anything or anyone ahead of him we’re worshipping idols. David wrote repeatedly in the Psalms how much he delighted in the Lord, and in his Law. Do we delight in the Lord, or do our devotionals feel more like drudgery?

Some wise soul said “We Amen where we’ve been,” and that certainly is true for me. For more years than I care to remember, I dreaded having to do Bible study and prayer. I did those things because I thought I had to, or else face dire spiritual consequences for me and my family. What I’ve had to learn, not just once but over and over, is that devotionals are not about ritual but relationship. Once I reestablished the kind of intimate personal relationship with God in Christ that the Father wants with us, the delight returned. Restoration for the Christian begins with confession, not just a broad summary but in excruciating detail. My period of confession earlier this year took hours, spread out over several days. None of us should let things go that far, but unfortunately they often do.

Next, we need to get reacquainted with the Lord. That means praise, and conversation. If the words of praise won’t come, use the Psalms, or your favorite hymns. Prayer is, in a very real sense, conversation with God, though with all reverence. Just talking isn’t enough; communication has to go both ways. Listen to the Father’s voice, and after a time you’ll know the difference between his gentle tone and the voice of your own thoughts or the deceitful lies of the Enemy.

Stop reading or enjoying music? Not at all, unless you are convinced you should. Enjoy your Chopin or your Garth Brooks; just make sure your real delight is in the Lord.

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Beneath His Wings Devotionals - Vol. 1