I will sing a new song to you, my God;
Psalm 144:9a (NIV)
Can people really change, or are we stuck in patterns of behavior over which we are powerless?
That is a pretty important question for anyone who gives serious consideration to their life and path. Over the years I’ve run into a lot of people who truly and honestly raise the white flag of surrender on their habits and destructive behaviors:
- “I was born this way.”
- “It’s genetic.”
- “It’s just who I am. I can’t change.”
- “There’s nothing I can do about it.”
I have come to recognize that there are some things that we can’t change, although I’ve discovered that most of the things that I can’t change are circumstances and people I don’t and shouldn’t control. My own thoughts, words, and behaviors however are things I’ve found that can and do change.
I was struck this morning by David’s commitment to sing a new song to God. He’s not just singing a song, but a new song. It’s an important recurring theme in David’s lyrics. Across the anthology of psalms you’ll find the phrase “new song” in psalms 33, 40, 96, 98, 144 and 149. I love the word picture because God is a God of transformation. Through victories, defeats, major successes and abysmal failures David continued to recognize God’s continuous and transformative act of creation in his life.
My personal experience of following Jesus is that it leads to a never ending call to examine, confess, and change. My life is a churning process of personal re-creation. The theme of my life’s song changes from season to season. Old things pass away, and new things come. And, it never ends in this lifetime unless I choose out. And, choosing out is always an option. Many people do.
This morning I am more committed than ever to the music God is composing through my life. There are dissonant notes coming out of my thoughts, words, and actions which I know I need to change. There are parts of the orchestration that I don’t control and I must be content to make changes and improvisations that weave my notes into harmony with them. The one thing I don’t want to do is stop playing.
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Your articles echo the words of King David whose implicit faith and trust in Hashem served as his anchor in his tribulation. Your spirited inspiration is reflected so clearly in your expressions of love, faith and trust incorporated in your words of wisdom. Keep up the good work!;
Reblogged this on BecomingEllipsisMark and commented:
“The one thing I don’t want is to stop playing.”
12 May our sons flourish in their youth
like well-nurtured plants.
May our daughters be like graceful pillars,
carved to beautify a palace.
My kids are growing up right before me. This year alone my son has grown about 6 inches and is almost as tall as me. Along with his physical growth, my wife and I observe emotional and spiritual growth too. My daughter is turning into a young woman. She is dealing with relationships, both with boys and girls, and is learning what having more responsibility looks like. My desire for my kids is to be well-rounded, hard-working adults who are productive in society and leaders in their circles of influence. This verse today reminds me how fleeting my time with them is. God, grant my son and daughter exactly what they need to best serve you.