How to get over the stronghold of ungodly music

I have lived my entire life as a Christian, but my most serious walk with God started when I was 18, right after high school. I graduated in 2001 which means I was a teen in the 90s.

Where I grew up it was uncool to listen to anything other than rap, r&b and pop. So I listened to a lot of Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Tupac, Notorious BIG, etc.

If I turned to the radio NOW to a station that played that type of music I would be disgusted. I sound like my parents when I say "you call that music??" lol

But I have struggled all these years with giving up that music. Just like my parents like the music from the 70s, I love my 90s music..or just the stuff I listened to in high school really. I have always been a huge fan of Britney Spears. I've had all her albums...I just really enjoyed her music. I have gone back and forth with the music battle. My main music is country music. I didn't start liking it until I was about 19 or 20. My husband makes fun of me because I'll go from listening to Alan Jackson, to Britney Spears, and then to Metallica.

I used to have a playlist on YouTube with all the songs I listened to in high school. Whenever I went out, I played a few Britney Spears songs since I kept her CDs in the car. I have actually bought a CD by a certain rapper 3 times because I kept throwing it out, and then wanting it again. One minute I'm super holy in this area and then the next minute I'm not.

God has recently healed me from this. I'll tell you how He healed me, and then give you some tips on how to get over this struggle.

During the Christmas season I had on TV the music channels that come with the digital cable package. There is a station called "Sounds of the Season" and it was playing Christmas music. I grabbed the remote and "accidentally" pushed the channel up button. "Conveniently" it was the Christian station (isn't God funny how He works sometimes lol). Well sure enough it was playing my favorite Christian Song (Jeremy Camp's There Will Be a Day). At that point in my life I was in a huge Christian music rut. I thought it was all boring. I'd play it in the car and immediately turn it off. But after hearing that song, God spoke to me big time with it and I have made a decision to not only listen to more Christian music DAILY but to use it to truly worship God.

He also showed me my issues with Christian music which I didn't even realize I had. Everyone of course has their own preference in music, but I was shown that I don't really like Christian Women singers. It doesn't affect me on a deep level the way hearing a man sing. Which I found really odd because I'm naturally uncomfortable around other men. But I get mentally distracted listening to women singers for some weird reason and this is ONLY with Christian music. The majority of my music are from women. It's not just women, but groups too. It's so weird. Only one male singer singing hits me on that level where I can't do anything but focus on God. You may not be the same way, but apparently that's what's going on with me. Crazy huh? lol

So I've been listening to Jeremy Camp and Matt Redman since I have those CDs. I'm now on a hunt to find more similar singers. Before I was trying to replace my "sinful" music with Christian music that sounded similar. It just didn't work. I had to have a clean slate.

Now here is HOW to get over this struggle:

     YOU have to listen to Christian music DAILY otherwise it's easy to drift away from it. You have to realize that to get over this struggle...it's a big part of the healing process. I went back and forth and quickly "lost" my healing. I refuse to give in to the temptation though because the feeling I get when I listened to the "right" music is awesome!

Sometimes when you get behind in your time with God, you miss a few days or even a lot of days, you start to have this feeling where you almost feel like God is not pleased with you or you have this disconnected feeling with God. Then when you finally have time with Him again, you feel not right. It's almost like you're sitting there not knowing what exactly to do. You lost your rhythm or flow, so to speak, with your time with God. The same thing can happen with your music. The more Christian music you listen to (I'm talking worship music here) the more you want to listen to it. If you let days and weeks go by, it's easy to get caught up in that rut again. You have to make a decision to have it be a part of your daily life. I listen to it while I'm cleaning my room and usually I don't want to turn it off when I'm done. I turn it up and let it play through out the house.

PRAY that God strips the enjoyment, the desire, and everything that attracts you to ungodly music away. You can't do this on your own, you NEED God's help. The whole healing process started with making me not feel comfortable listening to that kind of music. I had an awful feeling in the pit of my stomach.

PRAY that God shows you the deeper meaning to why you like that ungodly music. What goes through your mind when you're listening to it? Hmmm...I don't think I need to say anything more there lol!

PRAY that God shows you what music really affects you (like how only male singers affect me). Maybe you have something quirky like me with needing a certain specific type of singing to get to that deeper level.

Start listening to Christian music and really pay attention to what songs affect you on that deeper level (you know what I'm talking about). Once you realize what moves you, start researching similar music like that. Check your libraries, listen to them on YouTube, and if you can afford it purchase a few CDs.

Consistency is VERY important with this. I hope this helps you. It has taken me almost 12 years to get to this point. It's not easy, but it's so worth it. And where it brings you to God, words just can't describe. There is a deep peace and a fullness that I've never experienced before. Do whatever it takes to get you there...you won't regret it.