Stick around here long enough and you’ll figure out pretty quickly how integral my faith is to my journey.
As the daughter of a preacher, Christianity has been part of my story since before I was born. I like to joke that I came out of the womb screaming hymns. Or maybe a BeBe & CeCe Winans song. Or Shirley Caesar if I was feeling particularly dramatic.
Music has always been my favorite way to experience my faith.
Don’t get me wrong—I love a good sermon because that’s how we learn. That’s how we grow. I love Bible study.
But if I’m honest…
I feel closest to God when the music starts.
But this isn’t meant to be a sermon. This Is a post about a different part of my faith journey. The part where I got healthy. The part where I realized that God only gave me one body. While I can alter it and change it and do things to it, It’s still just the one. And it’s important that I take care of it.
Four years ago, At the top of the year in 2022, I was nearly 260 pounds. I know, right? Well, you won’t know, because you don’t know me. But if you knew me right now, you’d say that was crazy. And it was. But I hit a point where I had to get serious about my health. Physically, and eventually, mentally as well. But for the physical part, I took a long, hard look at myself and promised myself that I would go ahead and do whatever I had to do to get this weight off. So I started working out. Spoke with a nutritionist. Changed so many of my daily habits. Sometimes I don’t even recognize myself when I make certain decisions. But I guess that’s a good thing sometimes.
Today I’m 179 pounds. And while I can’t seem to get to my original goal of 175. Keeping off that much weight for this long is a win for me. I was at a point where I thought I was always going to be the person I saw in the mirror. I thought I’d always look in the mirror and dislike the woman looking back. But thank God for change. Thank God for growth. And honestly, thank God for Jekalyn Carr’s “It’s Yours 2.0”, specifically the live version. Because that 5 minutes and 10 seconds is how I started running. That song became my stopwatch. There’s a point in the song when she starts hollering, “Get it back, get it back. Get it back” over and over again. And every time I heard that on the treadmill, I would just push, push, and push, because I knew that I only had about a minute left. And that was just one minute of 5 minutes and 10 seconds. But for someone who used to only run to the couch or run to the refrigerator – That 5 minutes and 10 seconds meant the world.
In the picture attached to this post, I’m running over an overpass in front of Bank of America Stadium. And I’m running in the heat, no less. Two things I would have never thought I’d do: run and be outside doing exercise In July temperatures. But there I am. My shirt Says “UNAFRAID.” And stitching the word unafraid is every verse in the Bible where the Lord tells someone, in some shape or form, to not be afraid. And that’s what it’s taken to get me to this point.
I can’t be afraid.
I can’t be afraid of failing.
I can’t be afraid to walk into a gym not knowing what I’m doing.
I can’t be afraid that I’m not as skinny as I’d like to be.
I can’t be afraid to run outside in my Amazon-special or mismatched workout gear.
I can’t be afraid to be around “real” runners.
I can’t be afraid to be around people who appear more fit than me.
I can’t be afraid to begin something scary because it’ll make me better.
So this is more than just a workout playlist. These are anthems that pushed me through every workout when I was still heavier than I am today.
When it hurt.
When it sucked.
When it was hot.
When I was tired.
These songs pulled me through every single time.
If you need proof, just ask my annual Apple Music Replay. Thanks to this playlist, CeCe Winans’ “Believe for it” is always my number one song because I’ve played this playlist nearly every day of my life since summer 2022. I’ve added to it and I’ve adapted it, but it still rings true. Initially, it was set for the first few songs to be my stretching and warming up. By the time I got to “It’s Yours 2.0,” I was just about done. Since then, I’ve added more songs, and now I mostly shuffle it because the order doesn’t really matter as long as I hear the message in my head while I’m pushing through something I still don’t truly love to do but I understand now how important it is. And I legitimately don’t work out to anything else. Occasionally an audiobook if I’m just walking. But typically, it’s this playlist. And it’s not that a Beyoncé or Megan Thee Stallion or Spotify Workout Bangers or whatever playlist might be out there isn’t good. This is what does it for me.
A few callouts:
“Blessings on Blessings” by Naomi Raine and Tasha Cobbs Leonard is a whole vibe. Tasha gets to hollering “clothed in my right mind” at the end, and I tell you what – that’ll push you through whatever you’re facing that day. Whether in a workout, or if you’re just listening to it in general.
“So Amazing” by Tye Tribbett & G.A. Tye was mixing rock and roll into worship long before it became common. Church kids like me loved it because we were also growing up during the rise of punk and emo. Somehow it felt familiar while still being rooted in scripture.
“Owe You Praise” by Elevation Worship & Chandler Moore. This is my single favorite Elevation Worship song. There’s not a message that rings more true to me than, “When I think of all you’ve done, when I think of all you’ve brought me through. When I think about your love. I could never say enough Thank yous.” Every time I see myself in a mirror, whether post-workout, or all dressed up, I am incredibly grateful for my faith. Without my faith, I don’t know that I ever would’ve become healthier. And I wouldn’t be happier. And I wouldn’t smile at the girl – excuse me – the 40 year-old woman that I see. So I’m grateful. Grateful for Jesus. Grateful for grace and millionth chances.
Whether you ever press play on this playlist or not, I hope you find whatever helps you take the next step toward the person you’re becoming.
These songs helped me.
Maybe something else will help you.
Whatever it is…
Keep going.
Thanks for stopping by.
Relatable Rhythms 