How Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger” helps me burn fat and beat the DEVIL, Work out playlist: day 2

Welcome to 10 Days to an Encouraging Work-Out Playlist: Day 2

A half-marathon is a challenging but exciting 13.1 miles; even when running through Disney parks, there are moments of great discouragement.

One of the songs on my running playlists that helps me battle discouragement is Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger.”

I know, I know, its not a “Christian” song. The lyrics are directed toward women experiencing a relationship break-up. The general goal is to help ladies feel stronger without their ex… to feel self-sufficient and self-focused.

While I completely disagree with this kind of self-focused thinking (not exactly Christ-honoring), I still value the song for this reason:

Recently, I have been experiencing a plethora of bad dreams; the kind of dreams that plant seeds of doubt and insecurity to the core of my being. I wake up feeling overwhelmed, even crushed sometimes. I know the dreams aren’t real, but I wake up with the emotions I experience in the dreams. It is not a fun way to start the day. I realize that the Devil is out to get me. The crushing doubts cripple me in my marriage, my ministry, and my relationship with God: the perfect recipe for Satan’s success.

I will admit that some of my dreams come from my subconscious, but I also believe there is an enemy of the almighty God, and he also has a plan for my life: destruction. What better way to destroy my heart than in subtle lies and emotional disturbances?

The mornings I wake up from these dreams, I head to the gym, put on my fightin’ face, and pop on “Stronger” as I jog or lift weights. I tend to rewrite some the lyrics in my head with the intentions of telling the Enemy where to stick it…. it usually goes something like this:

You know the bed feels warmer
Sleeping here alone*
You know I dream in color
And do the things I want

You think you’ve got the best of me
Think you’ve had enough the last laugh
Bet you think that everything good is gone
Think you left me broken down
Think that I’d come running back
Baby, you don’t know me, ’cause you’re dead wrong

Chorus:
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn’t mean I’m lonely when I’m alone
What doesn’t kill you makes a fighter
Footsteps even lighter
Doesn’t mean I’m over ’cause you’re gone

Bridge:
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, stronger
Just me, and Jesus Christ
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn’t mean I’m lonely when I’m alone

You heard that I was starting over with someone new
They told you I was moving on, over you

You didn’t think that I’d come back
I’d come back swinging
You tried to break me, but you see

Chorus:
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn’t mean I’m lonely when I’m alone
What doesn’t kill you makes a fighter
Footsteps even lighter
Doesn’t mean I’m over ’cause you’re gone

Bridge:
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, stronger
Just me, and Jesus Christ
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn’t mean I’m lonely when I’m alone

Thanks to you I got a new thing started
Thanks to you I’m not the broken-hearted
Thanks to you I’m finally thinking I’M FREE!
You know in the end the day you left is just my beginning
In the end

I’m not alone

You will see the lyric changes I made in bold. Also *I still sleep in the same bed as my husband, but the enemy is not invited…. so he can just stay out of my dreams.

I hope you can take encouragement, and take up arms against the enemy… let your bicep curls be a reminder! “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” Ephesians 6:13

Catch up on 10 Days to an Encouraging Work-Out Playlist:

Day 1: Undignified, by Warr Acres

Day 2: Stronger, by Kelly Clarkson

 Tomorrow……..Day 3: Lay Me Down featuring Matt Redman and Chris Tomlin

Subscribe via email to get post updates right away, and please COMMENT below: What music inspires you in your work out and spiritual life? (PS… we are going to have a DAY 11 with all the songs you post about that encourage YOU during your work-out.)