A New Song

This morning, I awoke with these words - "Sing unto the Lord a new song".  It is a sentiment repeated several times in the Psalms, and also in Isaiah (Ps. 96:1, Ps. 98:1, Ps. 149:1, and Is. 42:10).  This morning it spoke to me of the need to focus on something else in my daily life and my prayers.

Last night I found myself feeling overwhelmed with all I had to do.  I had worked hard all day and accomplished a great deal, but as I compared what I had accomplished with what I had yet to do and the deadlines in which to do it, it seemed impossible to accomplish it all.  I KNEW I needed to focus on the positive and thank God for what He had accomplished through me that day rather than on what yet needed to be done, but it was SO hard to turn off the part of my brain that was listing everything that yet needed to be accomplished!  Since that was what I had gone to bed thinking about, I knew this morning's verse about singing a new song was a reminder to me of my need to do so. I need to sing a new song of PRAISE instead of the old one of my overwhelming to-do list!  But I HAD been trying to do so and not succeeding as well as I would have liked.  Father, how am I to do this?  I want to "change my tune", but I'm having a hard time doing so.

Then another verse popped into my head:

"He put a new song in my mouth, praise to our God!" Psalms 40:3 ISV

Of course! I know that it is God that works in me both to WILL and to DO of His good pleasure (Phil 2:13).  He doesn't just tell me to do something and then sit back and watch me struggle to do it!  He works in me to accomplish it!  He will help me sing that new song - AND He will help me accomplish the things I need to accomplish since they are a required part of what He has directed me to do. He knows all that needs to be done, and will see that it happens as it should.  Thank you, God!

Father, today I am so grateful for your love and your power in my life!  I got far more accomplished yesterday than I would have believed possible, and I know I have YOU to thank for that.  Why then would I start worrying about the rest that needs to be done? OF COURSE you will help me accomplish what needs to be accomplished.  You're a loving God - not a capricious one that would set impossible tasks before me!  You will see me through it all, and I thank you!  Father, please help me remember this and rest in you.  Please help me keep my priorities straight and not allow concern about all I have to do to get in the way of interacting with those around me.  You know my concerns about the expected and unexpected guests so soon before we teach this class and how we'll manage to get our class prep done in time.  This too, must be your will - or else you will block it some way.  I trust you, Father to ensure that your will will be done in my little corner of the earth, as it is in heaven (Matt 6:10).  May your will be done in me this day and every day, I pray.  Thank you again for all that has been accomplished in the last few days, and for your promises that regarding what you have begun in me, YOU will continue to see it through (Phil 1:6). I am grateful that I don't have to worry about it. I trust you to see that everything gets done as it should. Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief! (Mark 9:24)  Thank you, God!

I am reminded of a quote - not sure where it came from.  It says something like: "Don't tell God how big your troubles are, tell your troubles how big God is!"  THIS is the new song I want to sing!  "How GREAT Thou art!"  Thank you, Father!