What’s Your Warm-Up Song?
There is just something about a perfect warmup song. That song that talks to you and connects with your soul. MLB baseball players each get to choose their own song that plays as they walk into the batter’s box. Fans become accustomed to their team’s songs and start getting hyped as soon as the they hear the first beat drop.
That song says so much about a person. Whether it is country, rap, rock, or chill, that song tells the world who you are and what makes you go. If the song is laced with profanity, it tells the crowd one thing, while if it is a classical hit, then it tells the crowd something completely different. Why is it your music so often defines you? I love music even though I can’t sing a lick. Genres don’t matter at all to me, if a creative artist comes up with a great song, beat, chorus, and bridge, then I am all in.
Well, let me retract that last sentence. I used to be all in. That was before I realized the full power of music and where music originated. It now blows my mind some of the lyrics and words I sang just because I liked the beat of a song. I honestly had no idea what some of the songs were saying, or I like many of you, just felt it really did not matter. It is just a song, right?
If you honestly believe that God is the creator of all things, then music obviously falls in that category. So why did he create music? He did so as an opportunity for His angels to worship Him. Satan, one of the highest angels in heaven, it seems was specifically gifted in this area equipped with timbrels and pipes (Ezekiel 28:13). Most believe this points to Satan being the leader of worship and music in heaven before his fall.
Satan is not the creator of anything, he is only an imitator, a liar, and a thief. He leads people to pervert or write lyrics promoting his evil agenda. It is an agenda of sin and causing people to die prior to seeing the Truth.
Musical sounds are in no way evil, the evil is found in the words. The Bible makes it clear that life and death are in the tongue. As a result, I have chosen to do one of two things over the years. I either change the words of a song, or I find another song. There are plenty of great artists and amazing songs out there to choose from, so why settle. That would be like choosing to marry someone, even though you know you don’t like what’s inside.
Our team chooses has a theme and a list of songs that set the tone for the entire season. On game day, the first song that plays when we enter the gym to warm-up is always a game changer. Kill the lights, spotlight ready, and in Bartlesville, Oklahoma at Oklahoma Wesleyan University you hear the sound of a Harley Davidson revving up its motor ready to lead our basketball team onto the floor with a song hand-picked to make a statement. How sweet is that! We have had a rival lead their team out on a tricycle trying to make fun of the motorcycle tradition, but I have to this day never had a complaint about our song. Actually, it is this exact opposite. Every year I have opponents and fans compliment us about our warm-up music.
So here is my question for you. Right now, what is your warm-up song? Not for a game, but your warm-up song that prepares you for walking into the presence of God? You know, the one you have on repeat in your car and on your phone. The one you wake up singing every morning. Surely you have one. If not, then you are right now diligently, even vigilantly, seeking to find that perfect tune, correct? My song right now is ‘Lost in Your Love’ by Brandon Lake. I can soak in that song for hours as I seek and wait expectantly for an encounter with my Father, the King of Kings. Coming into His presence is like nothing on earth. There is simply nothing better.
Enjoy a small taste of my current jam. “I just want to be close to Your Heart. This is where my healing finds its start. Here is where I find my peace, where my soul is finally free, I’m going all in, in over my head, I’m not scared to get drenched in your love. Wherever you go, God I will follow, I’m not scared to get lost in your love.” How is that for a start? My favorite line comes later in the words, “Your Power is found in the roughest waters, where I have no choice, but to Trust you Father”. Just when I didn’t think it couldn’t get any better, Brandon goes even deeper. Crying out to God asking Him to take you deeper into His love. He then shares, “I need your love like I need water. I need your love like I need breath inside my lungs. Burning my heart just like a fire, come and take me over.” After reading this paragraph, if you can honestly tell me why you are not sold on the importance of seeking out your warm-up song that helps you prepare for time spent with your Heavenly Father, then I wonder if you have a heart beat or desire for what truly matters.
Arguably the greatest warrior of the old testament, King David, was always playing an instrument or writing and singing songs. The only thing that caused the demonic torment of King Saul was when David played his harp for him. Why? Because God created music. In 2 Kings 3:13-15, Elisha was called in by the King of Israel, King of Judah, and the King of Edom. Elisha was only willing to prophesy because of King Jehoshaphat of Judah. Elisha then asked for a harpist to come play, while the harpist played, the hand of the Lord came upon Elisha. Sounds like Elisha and David were experts on warm-up music. Are you?