The best part of waking up is ______________.

I bet I know what you’re thinking. How many of you would have filled in that blank with the rest of that old Folgers commercial even if I hadn’t posted the YouTube link?

That, my friends, is how easy it is to get the world ingrained into our minds. One little jingle, one little endearing picture of a puppy or a horse, one catchy lyric.

This is a post for me as much as anyone. I need to work harder to be of the world and not in it. I don’t know about you, but I’ve gotten to a point where I don’t even turn the TV or my radio on anymore. It’s nothing for the DJ to play a song with an inappropriate sexual theme or one filled with curse words. Notice–not just with “a” curse word, but filled with them.  One of these is the insanely popular “Uptown Funk.”

I see Christian friends post links to videos with people dancing to this song on Facebook all the time, and I just ask–have you seen the lyrics? I didn’t really pay much attention until my son came in one day singing the first line. Of course, I went right away and listened to the song, and I was like, wait a minute! But the damage is done. Whoever has played that song in front of him has already put that song in his head. And not only that catchy tune–lines like “Girls, hit your hallelujah, ’cause uptown funk gonna give it to you,” “I’m too hot (hot d___),” and “Got to kiss myself, I’m so pretty.”

Here’s another one. It’s hard not to like Taylor Swift. And my six-year-old daughter LOVES her. She wants to BE her. And at first glance, the song “Shake it Off” has a pretty decent theme. But even sweet and innocent Taylor sings about the “fella over there with the hella good hair.” Yes, hella, which from research seems to come from “helluva”, or “hell of a.”

Even “Our Song,” which seems so cute and harmless, can pose a worldly threat. One of my daughter’s favorite lines is that one where she says, “’cause it’s late and his momma don’t know.” I keep telling her that’s not really acceptable–if it’s late and this momma don’t know, when I find out (and I will), there will be consequences.

So, rant over. Back to the blank. Here’s mine. The best part of waking up is that God’s promises are new every morning. I continually mess up with this whole worldly thing. Sometimes I get distracted by funny videos or catchy songs with inappropriate themes. But God has given me this awesome gift–a daily reset. And that’s something I can teach my children.

Lamentations 3:22-24 says this:

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!”

Thank goodness for this hope. If I’ve made the choice to fill my mind with garbage yesterday, I can wake up this morning with a clear, fresh start.

Where are your thoughts this morning? Hope you have a blessed day!