Psalm 51 – “Change My Heart Oh God”

For our Psalm of the day on 10/11, we have combined portions of Psalm 51 with the song “Change My Heart of God” by Eddie Espinosa.  Here is the script that we will follow:

Pastor:  Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
All:      Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.

Pastor:  Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
All:      Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.

Congregation Sings: “Change My Heart Oh God” #33, Chorus

Pastor:  O Lord, open my lips,
All:      and my mouth will declare your praise.

Pastor:  You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
All:      you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

Pastor:  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart,
All:      Yet, O LORD, you are our Father.  We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. – Isa 64:8

Congregation Sings:  Chorus, Verse , Chorus

For more information on this song, and to hear it, follow this link:

https://sjbrown58.wordpress.com/2009/01/26/ash-wed-song-choice/

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.  Used by permission of International Bible Society

Ash Wed – Song Choice

Ash Wed – Song Choices

The Psalm that we usually use on Ash Wednesday is Psalm 51.  This is a great penetential Psalm.  Everytime I read it, I am amazed by how familiar I am with certain parts of it, because we use it in our liturgies all the time.  There’s a nice contemporary song based on this Psalm; it’s “Change My Heart, Oh God” by Eddie Espinosa and its in both the LAPPY and BOB songbooks (songs 38 and 33 respectively).

The message is short and simple, yet voices a beautiful prayer:

Change my heart oh God
Make it ever true
Change my heart oh God
May I be like You

You are the potter
I am the clay
Mold me and make me
This is what I pray

CCLI Song No. 1565
© 1982 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Music Services)
Eddie Espinosa

The song uses two sections of scripture, combined together into a prayer, asking God to change our lives.  I emphasize the point that music does not change our lives – the Holy Spirit does.

 

Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.  – Isa 64:8

 

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  – Ps 51:10

 

The song is “congregational friendly” and is easily learned.

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