Written by Karin Shermbrucker
Have you ever been to a silent disco? Not one without any music, but one of those where everyone puts on wireless headphones, and the music gets played through their headsets. They usually do them at natural, beautiful environments – like parks, beaches or rooftops. Trust me, it’s a thing…
Everyone is wearing headphones and hearing the same music – but only if you are wearing the headphones do you hear it. If you are NOT wearing the headphones, everyone basically looks batwing crazy – dancing to their own rhythm that looks more epileptic or energetic than beautiful.
Song dependent of course!
Lately, as I have been contemplating significance, success and purpose (you know, real midlife crisis questions!) God showed me the picture of a silent disco… and now you know what it is too.
Dance to Your Own Tune
In the picture there was a silent disco where everyone seemed to be dancing, everyone had a set of headphones on. Even I had some on. But to me, the other people’s rhythm seemed to be out of sync with mine – almost as if they were playing different music. As I looked around, God whispered “you have different music… but dance anyway!”
The Lord reminded me that everyone has different music, yet we all need to dance now in the Kingdom. There is one tune and it’s His tune.
What if we all stopped looking around and listened in? And instead of choosing to play our own music, listened for our Fathers melodies and voice instead?
His music is clear, and pure. It’s just that we don’t often choose it. We want and choose our own way and our own music.
There is so much in this picture.
Analysing the Picture
The first thing that really spoke to me was that we all have the power to choose the music we wish to listen to. And the reality is, that in our circles, families, churches and amongst friends – we often all appear to be listening to different music. One of my sisters in Christ, a beloved friend and very wise mentor once said to me, “Karin, comparison is the enemy of contentment.” So profound!
This golden nugget of wisdom has encouraged me and gotten me through many challenging times in my walk. It’s so easy to look around and to compare ourselves to others, but this is definitely not what God wants for us. In Proverbs 14:30 it says:
“A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.” And in Galatians 4:6 it says “each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.”
One of the quickest ways of discouraging yourself and getting trapped by the sin of envy is when you compare yourself to others. God has a specific plan for your life, and you won’t accomplish that plan by looking at others. We should count our blessings and not those of someone else.
Let God control your life and never give the enemy opportunity to discourage you from the purpose God has for you. Set your mind at peace by focusing on the Lord and remembering that all we need is Christ.
The second thing that God highlighted in this picture was a question – what music are we choosing to listen to? And are we listening to His music? Do Jesus and I care about the same things? Are we listening to the same music? Is what is important to us, important to God?
In Romans 12, Paul says: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
I was deeply challenged by this, because so often we look around at others, at the world and we forget that there really is only One tune that brings wholeness, hope and life – and it’s not the music that the world plays.
It is far, far, far from that.
What music are you choosing?
Our lives (empowered and instructed by the Holy Spirit) has surely got to look different to the lives of those without it. We are dancing to a different beat entirely. Are we really choosing God’s music or have we found our own?
In John 4:4 Jesus speaks to the Samaritan woman at the well, He speaks of living water which satisfies:“Jesus says to her “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
The truth is that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. He is the only thing that satisfies. We will continue to thirst for more, to keep changing our music if we don’t stop and listen for His music, choose His rhythm and dance to His drumbeat.
And friends – we need to remember that we are only dancing for an audience of One. So close your eyes, stop looking around, and enjoy His freedom.
Father, please deliver us from the temptations of the world. Deliver us from comparison, and envy and protect us from the empty promises of the world. Help us choose differently. May we turn off our own music, turn down our neighbours music, and start listening for yours.
