This reminds me of another question a popular ad for a certain credit card used to ask – “What’s in your wallet?” The implication is that the contents of one’s wallet are critically important and make a huge difference in the quality, experiences and outcomes of one’s life. More specifically, they want you to believe that if you have their credit card in your wallet things will go well for you – you will have access to “the good life.” They imply it is only their credit card which can deliver to you the life you desire. Well, if money (or a credit card) could buy happiness, then maybe what’s in my wallet would matter.

But I’m wondering if the truly important question isn’t “What’s in your wallet?” but rather, “What’s on your playlist?” Now playlist typically means music. It’s our “jam” – it’s the music we listen to while we run or workout. It’s the music that inspires us, gets us going, picks us up when we’re down. It’s the music we dance to, sing along with in the car – it is the music that is the backdrop of our lives, not unlike the musical score of a movie, always there with us, playing in our heads, sometimes softer, receding into the background, sometimes louder, getting our attention. But the music on our playlist is always there, playing continuously in our minds, influencing every aspect of how we go about our days.

Why are playlists on my mind at present? Because I just finished making a playlist for a friend at her request. But it’s not what you might think. It is not a musical playlist. It is a list of Bible verses for her to read as often as she likes, to take to heart, to memorize if she so chooses, so that she can “play” these Bible verses over and over again in her mind as often as she likes, as often as she feels the need for the comfort, assurance, guidance, encouragement and hope they provide.

Our playlists determine which tunes our ears attune to, which drummer we march to, therefore, what’s on our playlist matters. Likewise, any playlist of words with which we choose to fill our minds, matters greatly. And there are so many words to choose from. There are novels and poetry, biographies and plays, famous quotes and current slogans and jingles from ad campaigns. (I started this post with a quote from an old ad) So which words or whose words do we hold onto? Whose words do we want on our playlists? Why is the playlist I made for my friend entirely comprised of Bible verses? Well, Paul says in his letter to Timothy this –

“All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Ok, all scripture is beneficial and will prepare us to do good things in this world, because it’s all from God – so I can’t go wrong as long as I stick with God’s Word. That’s reassuring because I want to help my friend, not cause her harm in any way. “All scripture” means nothing in God’s word is off limits or not playlist worthy, so I have plenty of material to choose from for my friend’s playlist and for my own as well. I guess that means even words from Numbers or Leviticus, right?

Who am I to think words in those books not suitable playlist material? So, I took a quick look and came across these words from Numbers 23:19-20 –

“God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill? I have received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot change it.”

Who says Numbers is just a book of numbers? Even if that were so, numbers are an important part of the telling of God’s story. Anyway, back to why a playlist of God’s words. We know that God says this about His Word –

“so is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)

That’s a good reason to have God’s Word on my playlist – God’s words are not idle or empty words, they are living words that have the power to accomplish His purposes in my life. And God’s purposes are always good and so much better than my own ideas for myself.

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,” (Ephesians 3:20)

That’s another reason I want God’s Word on the playlist that runs through my mind continuously – His word is powerful and purposeful and will do His work in me.

“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

If I put God’s Word on my playlist, bringing His words into my heart and my mind, I give His words a chance to do their transformative work in me and in my life.

“Do not conform any longer 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.” (Romans 12:2)

That’s what a playlist of God’s word does – it renews my mind as often as I play it. And like any favorite playlist, I can play it over and over again in my mind if I choose to do so. God’s living word is always available to me. Another benefit of this playlist in this chaotic and confusing world, is that its words will guide me and I often need direction and clarity. The psalmist said this about God’s playlist –

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

As I write this, I am realizing just how important the content of my chosen playlist is. There used to be a saying – “You are what you eat.” (I’d be ice cream) It could also be said – “You are what you think.” And God’s word agrees saying –

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:” (Proverbs 23:7 KJV)

I know I have a default playlist. This is one that plays automatically in my mind – one made up of the voices that surround me now and of the voices that have spoken for better or for worse, into my life throughout the years. These voices often come unbidden, enter in and take up residence while my guard is down and the spaces of my mind open, because they are not filled with anything of substance, only with those thoughts that can be blown about easily by the winds of change. Such are the thoughts of our current culture – unstable, constantly changing, fear producing, deceptive, divisive, often hurtful words that do not make for a good playlist.

But here’s the good news. I can choose my playlist! You can choose your playlist! We each can choose what we put on our playlists. We can edit them, we can change them, we can update them and we can delete words from our playlists. We can be intentional about what’s on our playlists. We don’t have to go through our days, moving to an unintentional or to a default playlist – the choice is ours. We can create our own playlist.

To this end, Paul has some useful advice for us –

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)

“Whatever is true” – Jesus prayed this prayer to God – “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.” (John 17:17)

That’s what I want, a playlist full of truth to guide me and to protect me from believing lies that will lead me away from the life God wants to give me. I chose God’s word for my friend’s playlist and I choose it for my playlist too. The words of the world are constantly changing, but God’s word never changes. I can count on that.

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.” (Matthew 24:35)

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” (Isaiah 40:8)

Today I will choose a playlist that renews my mind, teaches me, transforms me, guides me, guards me, equips me for everything God calls me to do, lights my way in this dark world – a playlist that is living, active and able to accomplish God’s purposes in my life. I choose a playlist comprised entirely of God’s eternal, living Word.

What’s on your playlist?

sincerely, Grace Day