21 Days to Clarity, Day 8: Sing

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Today I woke up in a mood. It had everything to do with falling asleep last night in a mood. I won’t throw anyone under the bus or anything, but falling asleep last night in a mood had everything to do with a certain someone (who shall remain nameless) doing a certain something (which shall remain obscure) that kinda sorta hurt my feelings. A lot.

It doesn’t matter who was right (me) or wrong (the other person), what matters now is when I get to the point of stewing over a situation for hours—through the night and into the morning—my chances of hearing God have essentially diminished to zero. And that really stinks, because today is Sunday and I really love to hear what God has to say to me at church. I mean, seriously, God speaks pretty clearly at church, you know? You'd really have to be distracted to miss His voice at church. So, I guess you could say, I’ve got myself quite a situation when I can’t hear Him today.

It’s not that I don’t want to hear God. It’s that my brain would prefer to keep rehearsing the injustice of it all. And long story short, all that rehearsing and stewing essentially hijack my thoughts, thus making God’s voice very faint. Even at church.

I’m no dummy. I know I need to redirect my thoughts and focus them on God. Not only will it help me hear Him today, but it will basically make the day more pleasant for my entire family. But honestly, it’s really difficult for me to do. Maybe it’s just me, but my thoughts are pretty stubborn. They’d much prefer to dwell on all things ugly than on the goodness of God.

Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. (Psalm 96:1)

That’s why I’m so thankful God created music. And I-Pods. Because while I’m ironing my church clothes, thinking about all the reasons I’m right and the other person is wrong, I am also listening to Watermark sing,

“Paint me with your purity, that I’d attract your majesty.”

And without even thinking, I start to sing it, too.

At first, it’s not because I want to be painted with purity. To be honest, purity painting is the furthest thing from my mind. I sing at first, because I love the song.

"But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble." (Psalm 59:16)

It isn’t long before I start to listen to what I’m saying:

“When others boast of fame and gold, the purest place is where I’ll go. The purest place. I will draw near. Do what it takes to keep me here. In the center of Your heart. The purest place is where you are.”

After a little while, I recognize the inconsistency between what I’m feeling and what I’m singing. And rather than switch the song (to maybe something more like “You’re so vain. You probably think this song is about you. You’re so vain. You probably think this song is about you, don’t you. Don’t you. Don’t you!!!!”), God begins to switch my thoughts. He redirects them from my hurt feelings to His goodness. He reminds me that even when others let me down, He never will. He embraces me with His unending and unfathomable love. Rather than leaving me to stew in my self-pity, He lifts me up high enough so I can hear Him again.

And even though my situation isn't totally resolved, and even though my feelings are still hurt, at least I've cleared out enough of the junk in my thinking to hear God speak wisdom, mercy and forgiveness into my heart.

An evil man is snared by his own sin, but a righteous one can sing and be glad. (Proverbs 29:6)

Are your thoughts distracted today with hurt and disappointment? Try singing a song of praise to God. And if you can’t think of a good song to sing, I’ll let you borrow mine.



Paint me with your purity.
That I’d attract your majest.
When others boast of fame and gold, the purest place is where I’ll go.

The purest place…I will draw near.
Do what it takes to keep me here
In the center of Your heart.
The purest place is where you are.

It’s not with mansions, not with things.
Not in these songs or offerings.
Not in this life, or what it brings.
The purest place is You, my King

If there’s such thing as too beautiful
If there’s such thing as too wonderful
If there’s such thing as to marvelous
Jesus, it’s You, Jesus it’s You.