Devotionals

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Sing to the Lord a New Song

"He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
"He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the LORD."

(NIV Psalm 40.2-4 Grand Rapids: Zondervan. 1984)

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Charlene was reading her daily bread in the Word of God in early January. She read in the Psalms, "Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth." (NIV Psalm 96.1)

Just then her phone rang. As she picked it up, she looked at the closed blinds on her windows.

"Hello?"

"Charlene?"

"Yes, this is Mary. I want you to hear a new song--it's really good. It's going to be on the radio at the top of the hour."

"You mean that contemporary 'Christian' radio station?"

"That's the one!"

"I don't...I don't normally listen to it."

"I know...but this song is different."

Charlene talked to Mary for a little longer, catching up on what happened over the Christmas vacation. After she hung up the phone, her first thought was "There is NO way..." But after she thought about for awhile, she said,
"Why not? If Mary can stand it...."

She walked over and turned on the radio, then tuned it to the station. After a few minutes of news, weather and sports, they announced the song.

"'Amazing Grace', with a new verse: check it out..."

Charlene listened carefully to the song. It was very familiar, then she started crying after the added verse came on:

"My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, amazing grace"
(Chris Tomlin, 2006)

The song ended, and as Charlene blinked away the tears, she saw Psalm 96 still staring at her.

Charlene called Mary back. "Hello, Mary?"

"Yes. Did you listen to it?"

"I did." Charlene started crying again.

"It's touching, isn't it?"

"Yes, it's beautiful." Charlene got up and opened the blinds on her window.
"There once were blinds, but now I see..." She quipped.

They both laughed.

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Prayer: "Father, help me today to be open to the leading of Your Spirit into new things, and hear Your new songs."


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-- tim pickl
Wednesday December 26, 2007 A.D.

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