Lent 2017: Music is My Idol

Lent: Day 7 of 40

Name: Hyuncheol Lee
Lenten Commitment: Give up listening to music.

For Lent this year, I tried to choose something that would give me a challenge. Something that I would need God for. Something that would help me appreciate Him.

I knew that my biggest challenge would be consistency and finishing whatever I started. Like when I was in seventh grade, I tried to read the whole Bible, but I did not get very far at all. I did it for a month and a half and only got through about 40 chapters of Genesis.

So I decided to I would do my SENA QT every single day. I prayed before March started because I knew I probably wasn’t going to get very far. It was about a week but I didn’t miss a day. I had always heard prayer was powerful, but I didn’t know it would be this effective.

Around Sunday, it felt like SENA was not going to be enough of a challenge to do for Lent. And I wanted a challenge, so I decided to give up music for Lent instead.

It may not seem like much to you, but I am listening to music for at least a third of the time that I am awake, so it is a pretty big thing for me. I wasn’t sure I could last through Lent without music. But I know God is with me, so what could stand against me?

It has only been 2 days and my ears are itching for some music. But when this happens, I think, “If this is a challenge for me, just imagine what Jesus felt and went through while he fasted for 40 days in the desert.”

Without my headphones, I have become more aware of my surroundings. I have realized a honking garbage truck is very loud and how quiet the walk to school is. I have also realized I walk faster without music and I think it is because, with music, I like to stretch out and enjoy my walks. I can see how music influences me and keeps me separated from the world.

I have realized music is my idol. Idols can seem like good things and they can hide very easily. They can separate you from Jesus little by little and you would be unaware of it.

I encourage you to try Lent because it can reveal your surroundings to you. I have a new perspective on prayer, Jesus’ sacrifices, and idols because of Lent. During your Lent experience, I hope you can have a similar experience and take away something from doing Lent.