Do you know what an “ear worm” is?  It is a little jingle that gets stuck in our head and we go along singing it to ourselves all day.  A few years ago college students were asked to come up with a list of the most insidious ear worms an these are some that made the list.

The Barney song: “I Love, you love me, we’re a great big family…”

Chili’s “Baby Back Ribs” jingle: “I want my baby back, baby back, baby back…”

Who Let the Dogs Out: “Who let the dogs out…woof, woof, woof, woof…Who let the dogs out…woof, woof, woof, woof…”

Kit-Kat candy-bar jingle: “Gimme a Break, Gimme a Break …”

The Lion Sleeps Tonight: “We-de-de-de, de-de-de-de-de de, we-um-um-a-way – drum fill – We-de-de-de, de-de-de-de-de de, we-um-um-a-way… A wimoweh, a-wimoweh a-wimoweh, a wimoweh” Note: That makes all spell checker go crazy.

“It’s a Small World After All” (“It’s a small world after all…it’s a small world after all…it’s a small, small world…”)

There are songs we hate to hear because the “earworm” will get buried deep in our brain for the rest of the day.  But musical earworms are generally annoying and not very dangerous.

There are other earworms that damage our relationships and even our walk with Christ.  These are the portions of our life history that get stuck in our heads. You know what I mean. Those old lyrics get played and the spiritual battle earworm takes hold.  Some might call it Satan whispering in our ear…

“You are a failure…”

“You will never change.”

“Why even try? You will just fail again.”

“You are not enough.”

“You are faking and everyone knows.”

“Everyone is doing fine except you.”

“You are not smart enough… pretty enough… tough enough…whatever enough”

“God is tired of your failures and He is tired of you.”

Try this ear worm from Scripture: There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!” Romans 8:1