“Take your past, say ‘so long’, start dancing to your new song… you’ve got a new song.”
“Back To Innocence” from the album Stephanie Smith EP by Stephanie Smith

What is the first thing you notice when you hear a song? The answer is different for all people. Musicians will normally say that the first thing they notice is the music. Songwriters will say it’s the lyrics. If you’re anything like I am, you’ll just notice that music is playing--period. Whatever way you listen to a song, you are inevitably going to have to evaluate the song as a whole—-how it all flows together, from the beat down to the words. That’s when it’s decision time.

From the outside, a song can have great rhythm, brilliant execution, skilled musicianship and pack enough of a punch to “wow” the critics. But when you finally sit down and listen to the lyrics, you can’t help but notice...they’re terrible. They can be crude, degrading, and downright hurtful--you know, the kind of lyrics that make you wonder what is wrong with this world. Then, on the flip side, there are other songs that have words that stir you unlike anything else. They uplift you, encourage you, make you want to go out and make a difference in this world. Whichever of these scenarios, there is always that one defining moment when you decide if you like the song you are hearing or, if you’re anything like I am, you want to throw a brick at the radio.

It’s funny how much a song and a life can relate. Let’s put it into perspective.

On the outside, you might look like you have it all together. You put on a fake smile to impress the crowd and make them think you’ve got the answers. But on the inside, you’re a wreck. Your life is a mess, and you have no clue what tomorrow holds. You’re drowning in fear. You’re surrounded by pain and guilt and, because of it, your attitude is pessimistic and downright cruel to the people around you. You fight any help people try to give you and you run from the obvious answers. Just like a song, your rhythm is nice, but your lyrics stink.

It’s so easy to deceive people--to make them believe something they ought not to. The most “innocent” sounding song could cause someone to stumble in an instant, just like the most “innocent” life can crash before your very eyes. But that’s just it, the problem lies in the facts: the song isn’t innocent—not truly-—and neither is your life. You’ve put on the “I don’t need anyone” mask and worn it so well that people can’t even tell from underneath that you’re screaming for someone to save you.

The reality of this situation is a cruel one: you’re not going to make it alone. You can push, fight, and run away from the truth until you’ve run halfway around the world. But at the end of the day, you are STILL going to be in the same situation—miserable, and in need of true peace. It’s not the kind of peace that comes from running. It’s the kind of peace that comes from living a life of true innocence. It says in Romans 5:18 that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. This means that, although WE are the ones who should have died for our own mistakes, Jesus, who lived a completely innocent life deserving nothing but honor, gave it all up for us. God placed every wrong we have ever done on Him and, in exchange, offered us a life of innocence through the shed blood of Jesus. When we accept what Christ did for us, our old life is put to death, and we receive true forgiveness and peace. It’s innocence in its purest form… a new life.

David writes in Psalm 40:3, “God has put a new song in my mouth--praise to God.” Such can be the same for the person who decides that they are done running from God. He can take your crooked “song”, and turn it into something that brings Him glory.

There is a line in the bridge of this song that says, “We’re breaking out of these chains and setting straight what remains.” Maybe you’re reading this, and you’re one of those people who know that you have chains in the life that you have been dragging along. You’re running from answer to answer, only to find more disappointment. Maybe you already have a relationship with God, but you have recently found yourself in a situation where you have started to look to other means for your peace of mind. Today is the day the Lord wants to set you free, exchange your guilt for innocence, take your life and make it something wonderful. God wants to put a new song in your mouth. He wants to make it the song your life sings, and He wants to make it amazing. It’s your choice. Will you let Him write it? If you’re anything like I am, you’ve already made your decision.