By Amy Gannett
Brave Women Series - Amy's Story
Have you ever seen someone jamming out to music that is only playing in their headphones? Maybe at the gym or while driving in their car or going for a walk. You see them moving to the music, but you can’t hear the music yourself. But by the way they’re moving you can tell: They are really feeling it.
Have you ever been on the other side? Have you ever been dancing to your own music, moving with the rhythm, letting the lyrics into your heart and into your head, all while knowing that you are in your own little world? Maybe it makes you feel silly, maybe you look silly. But in the famous words of Justin Timberlake: you can’t stop the feeling.
Some people look at others with their headphones in and think they look ridiculous. But the wise among us will ask a better question. We will start to wonder, what are they listening to? And is there a song or group that I am missing out on?
I think this gives us a glimpse of what it looks like to walk out the Christian life. As Christians, we have the privilege of living in the ways of heaven while still living on earth. Or, put another way, we get to dance to the music of heaven even though others can’t always hear it.
"As Christians, we have the privilege of living in the ways of heaven while still living on earth. Or, put another way, we get to dance to the music of heaven even though others can’t always hear it."
Part of the joy of abiding in Christ and walking with him in a daily way is that we tune our ears to hear the songs of heaven and let our lives move and bend to its rhythm. We get to let the lyrics of God‘s economy sink into our minds and hearts, we get to let our lives be shaped by them. We get to let our steps joyfully dance to the beat.
So, it should come as no surprise when others look at us like we’re a little bit crazy. They can’t hear the music. They don’t get the appeal. They look around at the world and all they hear are the gym noises of weights clattering together or the overhead announcement saying there’s a sale in aisle five.
But as we move to the rhythms of the gospel, the wise will start to ask: what is it that she hears that I don’t? What is bending and moving her life that I am missing out on?
"But as we move to the rhythms of the gospel, the wise will start to ask: What is it that she hears that I don’t? What is bending and moving her life that I am missing out on?"
Friends, we have the deep joy and severe responsibility of living our lives in a winsome way that makes others wonder about the gospel. It should make them curious about the gospel's appeal.
Evangelism lived-out is a joyful declaration that there is salvation found in Jesus, and that he is our true source of joy. We are declaring that he gives us real hope. He really does change our lives, both now and into eternity. And as we boldly live our lives this way, we shouldn’t be surprised when people ask us to take off our headphones and share the music with them.
"Evangelism lived-out is a joyful declaration that there is salvation found in Jesus, and that he is our true source of joy. We are declaring that he gives us real hope. He really does change our lives, both now and into eternity."
One day the hymn of heaven will be put on loudspeaker, when Jesus returns and heaven collides with earth. But until then my encouragement is to ask us to do two brave things.
First, dance to the music. Turn it all the way up. Live your faith out loud in a joyful and celebratory way. It really is good news, let it be good to you.
"Live your faith out loud in a joyful and celebratory way. It really is good news, let it be good to you."
And second, live your life in such a way that it makes others curious about what you’re listening to. Live your life in a winsome way that makes people wonder about the hope of glory, about the source of your joy and satisfaction.
"Live your life in a winsome way that makes people wonder about the hope of glory, about the source of your joy and satisfaction."
And when someone asks, be ready to pull out an earbud and share it with them.
Brave Woman Manifesto
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About Amy
Amy Gannett is a Bible teacher and author passionate about helping believers know and love God through His Word. She is the founder of The Bible Study Schoolhouse, a resource for Christians wanting to grow in their Bible study and theology skills, and of Tiny Theologians, a line of theological discipleship resources for kids ages 2-12. She is also the author of Fix Your Eyes: How Our Study of God Shapes Our Worship of Him.
She and her husband, Austin, are church planters in Greenville, NC, where they serve Trinity Church Greenville. Austin and Amy have two wonderful daughters, Emerson and Elliot.
Feel free to follow Amy on Instagram @amycategannett.