My favorite singer/songwriter is John Hiatt. I have had the distinct honor and pleasure of meeting him on numerous occasions. He wrote a song a few years back that contained the line..."I'm just listening to old voices with new ears..."

This line has resonated with me for years but never so much as it has in the past few weeks. I have been trying to overcome the negative attitude that is associated with an injury that has the potential to prevent me from accomplishing a life goal of running a half marathon the end of April. It amazes me that negative little voices that try to convince me that I won't be healed in time to run the race, that I will re injure myself if I try, that I'll never be able to run in a race..etc. Old voices that I used to listen to all the time. Lately I've thought about John and what he meant by "listening to old voices with new ears..."It seems to me that when we allow God to make changes in our lives, that He gives us new ears. Ears that filter out the negative discouraging, self destructive old voices that try to drag us down, and hear Jeremiah 29:11. Ears that hear God say go left, go right. Ears that hear that life affirming, edifying, encouraging, wisdom/truth filled still small voice that never condemns but directs and instructs and assists us in seeing the greatness that God has put into us. Greatness. For so long we have lived on a diet of regret, guilt, shame and defeat. There is a greatness that God put in us long before we were born. A greatness that when we use the NEW EARS God gives us when we accept Christ, is awakened by the voice of God and manifests itself in ways that we could only dream, hope for, or barely imagine. Greatness that seemed impossible to the old voices, is made possible when we listen with new ears.

As we enter into this Grace and Strength Lifestyle, we need to seriously consider which ears with which we will choose to listen. Will we continue to listen with ears that only hear the old voices that condemn and tear down our efforts and accomplishments, hopes and dreams? OR, will we use the new ears that God gives us to listen to the Life Affirming "YOU CAN DO IT! YOU ARE GREAT! I LOVE YOU!" voice of the Lord above?

I choose to listen with the NEW EARS. I have determined that I will no longer be influenced by self destructive unproductive negative old voices.

Besides, The new ears come with an ETERNAL warranty! THAT'S the Grace and Strength lifestyle!

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* Individual results may vary.