New Ways to Praise

Background

I once played for a church conference where the theme was “So that God not be ashamed to be called our God.”  I was appalled that this theme was thought up in the first place, and appalled that no one stepped in to say, “let’s choose another, post haste!”  All of the conference volunteers were, believe it or not, gifted with a travel alarm clock on which this theme was embossed.  Did I say that I was appalled?  The clock itself was actually pretty handy to have, so when I returned home from the conference, I promptly taped a new scripture verse over the theme: “Therefore I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” (Psalm 139: 14)

Self-consciousness is the great gift of humankind, but it is a hard gift to bear.  I think many people find it far easier to appreciate others than to appreciate themselves.  It is so easy to be self-critical, and to carry shame for all sorts of reasons.  So, the whole point of this gospel song is to include oneself as a part of creation in which one is able to rejoice, accepting oneself just as one is — “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made….”

Being myself and being okay
–new way to pray
Saying what I feel, and feeling what I say
–new way to pray

New ways to praise You!
New way to pray!

Bringing my wounds out into the light
–new way to pray
Breaking the silence, bringing dawn to the night
–new way to pray

Walking beside the still waters of peace
–new way to pray
Standing beneath the waterfall of Your love
–love, love, love