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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: RECORD (04/22/21)
Growing up in the 60’s, we listened to vinyl records that we bought in a music shop. I had a large collection, mostly pop music, and I had a record player. I can so clearly remember taking the record out of its sleeve, placing it on the turntable turning on the switch and watching the mechanics of the record player as the arm came over and lowered the needle onto the record at just the right place and then the music began.

Nowadays it is so different, music at the touch of a button, but I still have my collection of records, although they can no longer be played without a record player.

As I reminisced on this, I remembered how occasionally the needle would get stuck. The same piece of music would play repeatedly. The only way to stop this was to manually pick up the arm, lifting the needle off the record and placing it back in its stand.

The reason for this was usually because there was a scratch on the record, some damage, creating a groove, so the needle would get stuck when it reached that place, every time.

This was so annoying, and sadly the record would be permanently damaged.

Our thinking can be like this. We so easily have thoughts that get stuck in our minds. These thoughts can go round and round causing anxiety and sometimes fear and tension. We try to put them to the back of our minds, only to find minutes later they have returned to the forefront again.

It may be an argument we have had and we go over the words spoken, anger rising as we think of what we would like to say if we had a chance. It may be something that has occurred that has worried us, a situation at work, an illness, an accident, a fear of something coming up, and our minds go around trying to find a solution, a way through, something that will make things better. It really could be anything that causes us unrest in our mind, and we get stuck, just like the record with the scratch on it. There is a saying that goes, “You sound like a broken record”, which means to repeat something over and over in an annoying fashion. Have you experienced any of this? I know I have.

Before I was a Christian, I would use any number of coping mechanisms to blot out these tormenting thoughts – drink, drugs, anything that would calm my mind, but the pesky thoughts had a way of returning into my thinking, filling my mind causing me great anxiety worry and often sleepless nights. I was stuck.

In later years, I became a Christian but I still struggle with mind games – thoughts that won’t go away, and I can find myself churning on them until I remember I now have a Saviour who says,

“Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” (Matt 11:28)

“Peace I leave you, peace I give you” (John 14:27)

I can now give the turmoil to Him, and just like the arm of the needle stuck on the record, He lifts the damaging thoughts off me and replaces them with His Peace. He delights in doing this. The thoughts may return but each time I can reach out to Jesus and He willingly lifts them off me.

The Bible tells us not to be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving to present our requests (worries) to God, and the Peace of God will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6) This portion of scripture goes on to say that we should think on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy. (Phillipians 4:8)

A real antidote to worry and churning thoughts.

It’s not easy, though but with practise and the Holy Spirits help we can experience our minds being transformed by the power of God.

No more stuck records, no more tormenting thoughts churning around in our minds for hours on end.

Don’t allow yourself to be like a stuck record.

Ask Jesus to help you, He will. He loves to lift us out of turmoil and usher in His Peace.

What a truly wonderful Saviour we have.
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This article has been read 352 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Linda Lawrence 
04/29/21
Great job of using the topic for a devotional!
Jenny Miller
04/30/21
I love this one. Not just for the nostalgia, but for the relatability and pointing to our thought life causing us to become stuck like a broken record.

So true. Great analogy!

Good article, thank you for writing it.
Stephen Kimball
04/30/21
This is a good devotional piece. Consider editing down to 350 words and submitting to FW daily devotional. Keep it up.
Laura Manley
05/01/21
Your entry kept me interested from beginning to end. As a punctuation freak, I would suggest you use a tool to help in that area. Other than that, I thought it was spot on as far as the word challenge is concerned. It kept my attention.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
05/04/21
This is a great testimony. I like how you start out with a story many can relate to. At times it felt like you overexplained, which wasn't necessary because you did a great job of building it up. Tiny proof note: when using decades, make them plural, not possessive. For example '60s should be written like that. The apostrophe is before 6 because it stands for missing numbers (19)and then just add simple plural s. On other hand Holy Spirit's help is possessive and needs apostrophe. Another thought is more my personal choice, but instead of using first person plural (we), be consistent throughout, and I like the first person singular because it feels more intimate. These are all little details. You've done an excellent job of writing on topic while delivering a clear, powerful Christian message. I truly enjoyed reading it and it made me stop and think. You did an awesome job.
Elizabeth Hayden
05/06/21
I really enjoyed your use of the analogy of the stuck record needle. There were a few mechanical errors which may be corrected easily, but the message was well written. Your vulnerability to tell of your earlier life encourages me. Very good message.