Change the Tune in Your Heart (5/9/14)

Change the Tune in Your Heart (5/9/14)

Have you ever had a song stuck in your head? No matter how many distractions your thoughts create, the melody and lyrics continue to play on. Often the tune is from a catchy commercial or an old song that you never really cared for. All it takes is a word or phrase. Before you are aware of it, the tune has planted itself in your mind to stay.

 A song like this can come into our mind via someone else. A friend states that he or she has had a particular song in their mind and later that day we find that the same song has jumped into the auto recall of our mind as well. If it was a pleasant song this is no real consequence. But when it is not a tune that we enjoy, it will hardly foster fond feelings toward the friend who shared it with us. 

We can also become trapped by wrong thinking that plays over and over in our minds. Like a broken record, these lying thoughts keep repeating themselves. The verse of this song may say that God has forgotten His promises to us. The chorus may resound with thoughts that we are not going to make it through this particular trial. And the bridge can simply continue repeating fear, self-doubt and futility. 

Throughout Scripture we are encouraged to sing a new song. Even King David who God called ‘a man after My own heart’ (1Samuel 13:14 and Acts 13:22) declared several times that he also would sing a new song. These new songs can be songs of thankfulness and praise to God. “Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; sing praises to Him with the harp of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully [on the strings] with a loud and joyful sound.”  (Psalm 33:2-3 AMP) These songs can proclaim God’s mighty nature and deeds. “Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples. For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; He is to be reverently feared and worshiped above all [so-called] gods.” (Psalm 96:3-4 AMP) 

The apostle Paul instructs us, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16 AMP) and “Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices [and instruments] and making melody with all your heart to the Lord,” (Ephesians 5:19 AMP) I believe the key to this is found in verses that speak of singing a new song. When we sing songs of thankfulness and praise they have a positive effect on others and ourselves. Our song can encourage others to trust God. ^“And He has put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many shall see and fear (revere and worship) and put their trust and confident reliance in the Lord.” (Psalm 40:3 AMP) We can also encourage others to join in our song. ^“Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, praise Him in the assembly of His saints! Let Israel rejoice in Him, their Maker; let Zion's children triumph and be joyful in their King! Let them praise His name in chorus and choir and with the [single or group] dance; let them sing praises to Him with the tambourine and lyre!” (Psalm 149:1-3 AMP) The song becomes a concert for our God.

Sometimes we may wonder why we should change the tune at all.  We may be singing a song of thanks and praise. But this may be an old song. It was appropriate for a time, but today is a new day with new demands. “Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them. Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise from the end of the earth! You who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, the islands and coastal regions and the inhabitants of them [sing a song such as has never been heard in the heathen world]!” (Isaiah 42:9-10 AMP) God is unchanging, but what He does in our life may take on a new path.  When our master director, the Holy Spirit, changes the tune we must then sing and believe with Him.  The song and direction of our lives may be about to change. This new path may lead to those who have not heard of the mighty deeds of our God.  We can introduce the song to them.

So as you go about this life, do not allow the wrong vocal coach to place his song in your mind.  Let the Holy Spirit lead you in His song and you will grow in peace and trust.  Spend your days “…and making melody with all your heart to the Lord,” (Ephesians 5:19b AMP) Sing it loud!