I thought I might have been going crazy.   I’m not kidding.  Maybe you’ve had the same thing happen to you.   I couldn’t get “that song” out of my head.   If I wasn’t going crazy, the song was going to get me there.  This went on every day for a couple of weeks.  I’d be working at my laptop and the song would keep coming back through my mind.  I’d go out and do some physical labor and catch myself singing the song out loud.  

I kept thinking this probably isn’t unusual.  Maybe others have dealt with the same thing.  But this was truly getting to me.  I’ve had a song on my mind for a couple of days, but never for 2 whole weeks!  I tried listening to other music, but it wouldn’t go away.   It might not have been such a bad thing if the song was meaningful.   I think a worship song where I found myself praising the Lord over and over would be encouraging.   If a song about loving people was stuck in my head, it could be a good thing.   “I’d Like to Teach World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)” would be up-lifting.  

The song that was stuck in my head has a good tune.  It’s not evil.  It’s fun.  But what confused me was I had not even heard this song recently.   In fact, as far as I can remember, I hadn’t heard the song in decades.  Suddenly, something made me think of it.  I started humming it.  Then I sang a few lines.  And BOOM!   It was stuck.  For days.  I began to really think some wires in my brain got crossed.  

You’re probably wondering the name of the song.  I’m hesitant to tell you, because I don’t want this to happen to you.   But here goes.   The song was Barbara Mandrell’s, “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool.”  

Isn’t the human brain an amazing creation?   Just think about the amount of information we take in and process every day.   The memory capacity seems to be almost unlimited.   However, I feel like my memory is holding on to too much useless information, like the words to a Barbara Mandrell song.

I’m not a scientist, and I’m not a doctor.   There’s a whole lot about the human mind I don’t know.  But I do know one thing for sure.   Our minds are where the battles take place.    Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6:10-20 that we are in a spiritual war with the unseen forces of Hell.  He tells us to put on the full armor of God.  One piece of armor he talks about is the helmet of salvation.   This headgear is not about protecting our skulls from physical blows.   It’s about protecting our minds against un-spiritual thoughts that cause us to lose focus on eternal promises and purpose.    

One of those unspiritual thoughts I’ve battled against my whole life is thinking I’m not good enough.   I’ve learned over the years that this thought doesn’t come into my mind from God.   It’s a thought our Enemy wants me to carry.   It’s a thought that tells me, “I can’t do it.”  It’s a thought that tells me, “I’m not smart enough.”  It’s a thought that, in general, wants to cripple me from doing and being and saying and going.  

I don’t think I’m alone.  I believe this is a common problem with which many people struggle.  It steals confidence.  It prevents people from trying.  It takes away the joy that comes from stepping out in faith.   Some Christians might even feel that if they have confidence then they’re practicing pride.   If this is something you’ve had trouble with, as I have, here’s some ways I’ve found to overcome the problem.  

First, I remind myself that I’m made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26).   Being made in God’s image is really special.  The simple conclusion for us, as God’s image bearers, is that we are absolutely good enough.  Remember, you and I are unique creations that God desires to have in His family.  

Second, I remind myself that I don’t need self-confidence because I have Jesus in me.  What I need to do is lean on Him and know that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)   I remember a statement I heard a long time ago, “God doesn’t call the qualified.  He qualifies those He calls.”

With the helmet of salvation reminding me that I’m so important that God sent His Son to die in my place, I then try to guard my mind by following the advice given in Philippians 4:8 which says: “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

If we don’t shield our minds from negative thoughts, our faith will fade, our hope will disappear, and our witness will be lost.  

By the way, I’m glad to report that Barbara’s song is no longer stuck in my head.   It’s been replaced with Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”.   I think that might be an improvement.