May 1
Guiding the Heart
Through the Noise
“My son, pay attention to what I say. Listen closely to my words. Don’t let them out of your sight. Keep them in your heart. They are life to those who find them. They are health to a person’s whole body.”
Proverbs 4:20-22, NIrV
Amanda stood in the doorway of Rory’s room, her heart heavy. The bass of the rap song shook the walls as her teenage child bobbed their head to the beat, completely immersed in the music. Amanda had caught snippets of the lyrics earlier, and the aggressive tone had left her uneasy. “How could Rory connect with something so harsh?” she thought, her worry mounting.
That night, Amanda couldn’t sleep. Memories of bedtime prayers and Sunday school floated in her mind. How had they gone from teaching Rory Bible verses to this—this wall of sound and words she barely understood?
Determined to bridge the gap, Amanda spent the next day researching the genre. She listened to songs, read lyrics, and watched interviews with artists. To her surprise, she discovered rap wasn’t just about bravado and rebellion. Some artists used their platform to share powerful stories of struggle, resilience, and hope.
One evening, Amanda sat down with Rory at the kitchen table. “Can we talk about the music you like?” she asked. Rory hesitated but nodded. As they talked, Amanda admitted she’d been quick to judge and shared what she’d learned about the genre’s depth. Rory opened up about why certain songs resonated with them—the way the lyrics made them feel understood and less alone.
Amanda felt a wave of gratitude for the honesty. “I’m glad we talked,” she said. “But I want us to be careful about what we let into our hearts. Some messages can build us up, but others can pull us away from God’s wisdom.”
Over time, Amanda and Rory developed a habit of listening to music together. They would talk about the lyrics, discussing which ones aligned with their faith and which ones didn’t. Amanda began to see Proverbs 4:20-22 come to life—how paying attention to God’s words and holding them in their hearts brought clarity and guidance, even in unexpected situations.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the wisdom found in Your Word.
Like Amanda, we often face challenges that test our understanding and patience.
Help us to listen closely to Your guidance and hold it in our hearts.
Give us discernment in the influences we allow into our lives and the lives of our loved ones.
Teach us to approach every situation with love, humility, and open hearts, always pointing back to You.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
