Psalm 40

^1-3 I waited and waited and waited for God.
    At last he looked; finally he listened.
He lifted me out of the ditch,
    pulled me from deep mud.
He stood me up on a solid rock
    to make sure I wouldn’t slip.
He taught me how to sing the latest God-song,
    a praise-song to our God.
More and more people are seeing this:
    they enter the mystery,
    abandoning themselves to God.

^4-5 Blessed are you who give yourselves over to God,
    turn your backs on the world’s “sure thing,”
    ignore what the world worships;
The world’s a huge stockpile
    of God-wonders and God-thoughts.
Nothing and no one
    compares to you!
I start talking about you, telling what I know,
    and quickly run out of words.
Neither numbers nor words
    account for you.

⁶ Doing something for you, bringing something to you—
    that’s not what you’re after.
Being religious, acting pious—
    that’s not what you’re asking for.
You’ve opened my ears
    so I can listen.

^7-8 So I answered, “I’m coming.
    I read in your letter what you wrote about me,
And I’m coming to the party
    you’re throwing for me.”
That’s when God’s Word entered my life,
    became part of my very being.

^9-10 I’ve preached you to the whole congregation,
    I’ve kept back nothing, God—you know that.
I didn’t keep the news of your ways
    a secret, didn’t keep it to myself.
I told it all, how dependable you are, how thorough.
    I didn’t hold back pieces of love and truth
For myself alone. I told it all,
    let the congregation know the whole story.

^11-12 Now God, don’t hold out on me,
    don’t hold back your passion.
Your love and truth
    are all that keeps me together.
When troubles ganged up on me,
    a mob of sins past counting,
I was so swamped by guilt
    I couldn’t see my way clear.
More guilt in my heart than hair on my head,
    so heavy the guilt that my heart gave out.

^13-15 Soften up, God, and intervene;
    hurry and get me some help,
So those who are trying to kidnap my soul
    will be embarrassed and lose face,
So anyone who gets a kick out of making me miserable
    will be heckled and disgraced,
So those who pray for my ruin
    will be booed and jeered without mercy.

^16-17 But all who are hunting for you—
    oh, let them sing and be happy.
Let those who know what you’re all about
    tell the world you’re great and not quitting.
And me? I’m a mess. I’m nothing and have nothing:
    make something of me.
You can do it; you’ve got what it takes—
    but God, don’t put it off.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” but that does not stop the flow of God’s compassionate forgiveness of those who run to Him as he runs to us.  There is nothing we have done that God will not forgive.  He died and rose again for me and for you.  Embrace the grace and accept His daily fresh mercies that mop up our messes and give us messages to tell of His greatness and faithfulness to each on who believes and calls on His Name.

Be ready and willing for God to create a new life that is not like the old one we cling to sometimes.  God’s Holy Spirit will create a new life that is freeing as we see Him for who He really is—the One and Only God who loves lavishly.  Watch God work miracles out of our messes so others will know Him through what He has done in us!  That’s how God works in the committed who have decided to follow Him.  This is Life to the full. This is God!

New Wine is a song that speaks of this change of heart, mind, and soul—

In the crushing
In the pressing
You are making
New wine
In the soil, I
Now surrender
You are breaking
New ground

So I yield to You and to Your careful hand
When I trust You I don’t need to understand

Make me Your vessel
Make me an offering
Make me whatever You want me to be
I came here with nothing
But all You have given me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me

In the crushing
In the pressing
You are making
New wine
In the soil, I
Now surrender
You are breaking
New ground
You are breaking
New ground

So make me Your vessel
Make me an offering
Make me whatever You want me to be
I came here with nothing
But all You have given me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me

‘Cause where there is new wine
There is new power
There is new freedom
And the kingdom is here
I lay down my old flames
To carry Your new fire today

So make me Your vessel
Make me an offering
Make me whatever You want me to be
God, I came here with nothing
But all You have given me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me

Songwriters: Brooke Ligertwood New Wine lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing, Essential Music Publishing

Lord,

Thank you for your continued work to cleanse my heart, removing all that is not you. Thank you for renewing my mind to be more like you. Thank you for refreshing my soul with your mercies, new and fresh each morning. Thank you for restoring the joy of you in me and me in you. To you be the glory!

In Jesus Name, Amen