Psalms Remixed

The Screwtape Project: Letter 1

Welcome to the Screwtape Project, a podcast inspired by The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. First published in 1942, the book is a work of Christian fiction told through a clever and unsettling literary frame: a series of letters from a senior demon named Screwtape to his nephew Wormwood, a junior tempter assigned to pull one human being away from God. Through that reversed point of view, Lewis explores temptation, pride, distraction, fear, spiritual drift, and the quiet habits that shape a soul. We created this series because the book still has so much to say, and we wanted to help a new generation engage its insight in language and examples that feel more accessible today. “The Lord was not in the wind… not in the earthquake… not in the fire… and after the fire came a gentle whisper.” 1 Kings 19:11–12 My Dear Wormwood, You sound much too pleased with yourself. You say the boy has been asking questions about God, truth, and whether his life has any real purpose, and that you have been answering those questions with arguments. I am disappointed in you. Arguments are clumsy tools. They create the dangerous possibility that he may begin to think seriously. Once a human starts asking what is true, rather than what is popular or convenient, the whole situation becomes unstable. You are dealing with a modern teenager. Use what is already built into his world. When he wakes up in the morning, do not let there be a gap. Before his feet touch the floor, get a screen in front of his eyes. Let him check messages, then highlights, then clips, then stories, then one “important” video, then another. By the time he has brushed his teeth, his mind should already be crowded with fragments. A crowded mind is far easier to govern than a rebellious one. You mention that he had a moment last Tuesday after youth group when he sat on the edge of his bed and looked unusually serious. That was dangerous. He was beginning to suspect that he is performing a version of himself most of the time. He was beginning to ask whether anyone actually knows him, and whether the Enemy might. Those are terrible openings. You handled it poorly. When such moments come, do not argue against them. Interrupt them. A vibration from the phone is often enough. If not, remind him of homework. If that fails, suggest he should “look something up” before he forgets. One search will become ten. Ten will become wandering. Wandering will become fatigue. Fatigue will become dullness. By then the moment is gone, and with it the possibility of prayer. I once had a patient of your age bracket who began to feel genuine conviction while waiting in a car outside a grocery store. The sky was turning orange. He had no music on. He was suddenly aware that he was unhappy, though all his friends considered him fun, and that he had become someone who joked about everything so he would never have to say anything true. It was a dreadful moment. Another minute of silence and he might have prayed. I did not waste time with philosophy. I reminded him of a text he had not answered. Then I suggested he should open a video “for a second” so he would not have to sit there feeling awkward for no reason. Then I gave him the most useful thought of all: This isn’t a real spiritual moment. You’re only emotional because you’re tired. That thought has protected us from countless disasters. By the time his mother returned to the car, he was laughing at something idiotic and had almost succeeded in making himself believe that the silence had meant nothing. Teach your boy to treat all serious thoughts that way. Never let him ask, “Is this true?” Train him to ask, “Is this weird?” “Is this practical?” “Will this make life harder?” “What will people think?” Once those questions become his instinct, truth becomes much less dangerous. He will reject things without examining them. Encourage him, above all, to call distraction “real life.” If he is ever tempted to think prayer is real and his scrolling is the distraction, you are in danger. Reverse it. Let prayer feel like an interruption. Let silence feel unnatural. Let reflection feel unproductive. Let busyness feel important. Let noise feel normal. You do not need to make him hate the Enemy. You need only keep him from hearing Him. Your affectionate uncle,Screwtape Discussion questions: * What are the biggest distractions you face right now? * Why do distraction and noise make it harder to hear God? * Have you ever had a moment where you felt convicted, but then reached for your phone, music, or something else to avoid thinking about it? * Why does Screwtape want the boy to ask, “Is this weird?” or “What will people think?” instead of “Is this true?” * What does our culture call “real life”? How does that shape the way people think about prayer, silence, and reflection? * What habits help you slow down enough to notice what is happening in your heart? * How can constant entertainment affect your ability to think deeply or pray honestly? * What would it look like to create more quiet in your life this week? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themustardseed.substack.com [https://themustardseed.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

When He Trusted

A quiet retelling of David’s rise and fall — a story of trust, pride, and the mercy that meets us when we return. [Verse 1] He was youngest, left unseen, Shepherd boy with hands kept clean. God saw more than what they knew— Not in height, but heart that’s true. [Chorus] When he trusted, mountains moved, Fields gave way to royal rooms. God was near, his aim was right— A sling, a stone, a holy fight. [Verse 2] He sang of love, he led with grace, Spared the one who sought his place. But when desire replaced the call, He tried to rise—and chose to fall. [Chorus] When he trusted, mercy reigned, But when he took, the sky turned gray. From rooftops high to battles wrong, His voice grew still, though once so strong. [Bridge] He tore his robe, he named his sin, “Restore the joy I had within.” And through the grief, the sword, the scar, God still remained—not far, but far. [Chorus (Final)] When he trusted, songs would rise, Through aching doubt and tear-stained eyes. Not perfect, no—but still he learned: The heart that yields is one God turns. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themustardseed.substack.com [https://themustardseed.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Sharing the Good News

A peculiar anxiety haunts the well-meaning Christian, a restless sense that the weight of another’s soul has been placed upon his shoulders. He feels the burden of persuasion, the urgent need to find the right words, the right tone, the right moment—lest the opportunity slip away, lest he be found wanting in his duty. Did the prophets of old persuade? Did Moses, by argument and eloquence, transform Pharaoh’s heart of stone? Did Elijah, by the force of his own conviction, turn Israel from their idols? No, the fire and the whisper, the pillar of cloud and the parted sea—these belonged to God. The prophet’s task was not to control the flame but to carry the message. And what of our Lord Himself? Did He strive to convince Pilate, to plead with the rich young ruler, to wrest belief from those who scoffed? No, He told the truth, and some followed, and some walked away. For “no one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws them” (John 6:44). Pilate asked, “What is truth?” but received no argument in reply. Even the great commission to “go and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19) presupposes that it is God, not man, who opens the eyes and softens the heart. Paul himself, that great voice of the Gospel, did not preach with “wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power” (1 Corinthians 2:4-5). If the greatest missionary who ever lived knew that faith must rest in God, how much more must we? We are but heralds, crying in the wilderness, “Behold your King!” We are but messengers, sent with tidings of great joy. We are but tellers of a tale so glorious that, once spoken, it is no longer ours to control. So do not weary yourself with striving. Do not measure success by response. Do not mistake the Spirit’s work for your own. Speak the truth, yes. Speak it boldly, clearly, and in love. But speak it with the understanding that once the words have left your lips, they belong to Him who alone gives life. “So shall My word be that goes out from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it” —Isaiah 55:11. Rest, then, in this: It is not our job to convert. It is not our job to save. It is not our job to convict. It is not our job to convince. It is only our job to tell. That is all. And it is enough. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themustardseed.substack.com [https://themustardseed.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Hold Fast to Hope

(Lyrics composed from the King James Bible) (Verse 1) They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings as eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31) (Verse 2) Weeping may endure for a night, But joy cometh in the morning. (Psalm 30:5) The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, And saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. (Psalm 34:18) (Chorus) Hope thou in God, for thou shalt yet praise Him, (Psalm 42:11) For He is thy refuge and strength, (Psalm 46:1) He shall cover thee with His feathers, (Psalm 91:4) And under His wings shalt thou trust. (Psalm 91:4) (Verse 3) Be strong and of a good courage, Fear not, nor be afraid, (Deuteronomy 31:6) For the Lord thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. (Deuteronomy 31:6) (Bridge) For He knoweth the thoughts He thinketh toward thee, Thoughts of peace, and not of evil, To give thee an expected end. (Jeremiah 29:11) The Lord shall fight for thee, and thou shalt hold thy peace. (Exodus 14:14) (Chorus) Hope thou in God, for thou shalt yet praise Him, (Psalm 42:11) For He is thy refuge and strength, (Psalm 46:1) He shall cover thee with His feathers, (Psalm 91:4) And under His wings shalt thou trust. (Psalm 91:4) (Outro) Now the God of hope fill thee with all joy and peace in believing, That thou mayest abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. (Romans 15:13) Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, For He is faithful that promised. (Hebrews 10:23) About this Song This song was created using Suno AI. Entirely comprised of lyrics and scripture found in the Bible, this modern interpretation aims to bring a new perspective to verses created thousands of years ago. The Bible as Music The sun rises over a dust-colored land, and somewhere, perhaps in a tent, perhaps in a stone-hewn temple, a voice lifts into the air. Low, steady, and deliberate. A psalm. A lament. A song of war. In the ancient world, before ink dried on parchment and before stories were bound in leather, there were songs. They were memory. They were history. They were the soundtrack of wandering tribes and restless kings. The Israelites sang when they walked, when they fought, when they mourned. And when they rejoiced, the walls of Jerusalem shook. They had instruments—harps, lyres, tambourines, and trumpets made of ram’s horn. But the real instrument? The voice. Miriam sang after the Red Sea parted. She took a tambourine, and the women followed her, their feet still damp from deliverance. The song was triumphant, a declaration that the horse and rider had been thrown into the sea. It was history set to melody. David, the shepherd-king, plucked his harp and wrote psalms that still hum in the veins of cathedrals and quiet prayer rooms. Some were raw, torn from the gut. How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? Others, sheer joy. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. There were songs of mourning, too. Lamentations, sung low and slow, an entire city bowing under the weight of ruin. How lonely sits the city that once was full of people! And yet, always, there was singing. Even in exile. Even when the instruments hung silent on willow branches by Babylon’s rivers. A question drifted from their lips: How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land? But they did. They always did. Centuries later, as the quiet weight of the Last Supper settled over the disciples, they stood, pushed back their cups, and sang a hymn. Jesus, knowing the road ahead, lifted His voice with them. Then He walked to the Mount of Olives. Music carried forward. Paul, writing by dim light in some forgotten Roman room, urged believers to sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. And in the final pages of Scripture, angels and elders and saints gather in a vast, unending chorus, singing of the Lamb who was slain. Songs began in Genesis and do not stop in Revelation. In the end, the Bible is not just a book. It is a score. A hymnbook stitched with longing, love, despair, and triumph. And somewhere, maybe in a church, maybe in a quiet room, maybe around a campfire, the song still plays on. This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themustardseed.substack.com [https://themustardseed.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Why Should We Memorize Scripture?

Video credit: @DivineEchoesofJesus, TikTok. One in seven Christians worldwide are persecuted for their faith. In places like China, where Christianity and the Bible are heavily restricted or outright outlawed, believers rely on a powerful spiritual discipline: memorizing Scripture. This practice preserves God’s Word in their hearts and ensures they remain spiritually anchored when access to a physical Bible is denied. “They can take the Bible from our hands, but they cannot take what we have memorized." No one can take away the Word of God hidden in our hearts, but memorizing scripture isn’t just about surviving persecution. It also has practical, everyday applications, even for those of us blessed to live in free societies. Scripture memory allows us to internalize God’s promises, making them readily accessible in moments of temptation, grief, or decision-making. As Psalm 119:11 reminds us, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Jesus: The Ultimate Example Even Jesus, in his humanity, demonstrated the power of knowing and recalling scripture. During his temptation in the wilderness, Jesus rebuked Satan by quoting verses from Deuteronomy (Matthew 4:1–11): The Temptation of Jesus 1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was famished.3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”4 But he answered, “It is written,‘One does not live by bread alone,but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple,6 saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written,‘He will command his angels concerning you,’and ‘On their hands they will bear you up,so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor;9 and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.”10 Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written,‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’” 11 Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him. On the cross, Jesus recited the opening line of Psalm 22: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). These examples show how deeply ingrained the scriptures were in his life and ministry. They became his strength in moments of trial and his anchor in suffering. Spiritual Benefits of Memorizing Scripture * Guidance in Daily Life: Memorized verses provide wisdom and clarity for decision-making. Proverbs 3:5–6, for instance, reminds us to trust in the Lord and lean not on our understanding. * Defense Against Temptation: Like Jesus in the wilderness, recalling Scripture equips us to stand firm against temptation. * Encouragement and Comfort: In times of despair, verses like Romans 8:28 assure us that God works all things for good. * Fuel for Worship and Prayer: The Psalms, for example, enrich our prayers and help us praise God in His own words. How to Begin Memorizing Scripture * Start Small: Begin with a favorite verse or a short passage, such as Philippians 4:13 or Psalm 23:1. * Repetition is Key: Write it down, recite it aloud, and review it throughout the day. * Use Technology: Bible apps and flashcards can make memorization engaging and effective. * Context Matters: Understand the verse’s meaning and how it fits into the broader narrative of Scripture. As members of the body of Christ, we are called to be both hearers and doers of the Word (James 1:22): But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. By memorizing scripture, we prepare for potential hardships and deepen our relationship with God. Let us take inspiration from our brothers and sisters who treasure scripture so deeply that they risk everything to retain it. I pray their stories ignite a passion within us to prioritize God’s Word in our lives. I pray that God’s Word dwells richly in you, reader, shaping your heart and guiding your steps. As the psalmist writes, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). May it shine brightly in your heart and life. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themustardseed.substack.com [https://themustardseed.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]