When I’m out of tune

I’m not quite sure if this analogy will reach everyone, but just for a moment, go there with me. I grew up in a musical family. My mom sang and played guitar, often in church, my dad sang (or at least attempted to), and my brother and I played different instruments in the school band for years. Even my younger sister is now starting to take piano lessons.

My point? Music has always played a significant role in my life. I don’t often play my trumpet anymore (and thank goodness for that!), but I can still read music, and I can always tell when an instrument or a voice is out of tune.

Because my ear was trained to hear this.

Every single day before band class would begin, you would find me, along with all the other musicians, tuning my instrument. Even when one instrument was out of tune, you could hear it, and it caused the entire band to sound poorly. To be in tune was of utmost importance.

Fast forward well over a decade, and I come across this verse in the book of Psalms this morning.

“O Lord, do good to those who are good, whose hearts are in tune with you.” Psalm 125:4

Something brought me back in this moment as my eyes read over a verse that I’m certain I’ve read countless times before. To be in tune, musically speaking, resulted in approval from the conductor. Taking it to a much deeper level, for my heart to be in tune with God, with His desires, with His ways…what would that look like? Has my heart been trained to even recognize when it is out of tune with God’s?

From this verse alone, I can tell you that a life lived in tune with God results in blessing. When our hearts beat in unison with the heart of God, it brings Him great pleasure. When our desires match His desires, it brings Him much glory.

I found myself praying a new prayer this morning. I’m not sure if this has ever happened to you before or not, but when I come across a verse that speaks so loudly to me in the stillness and quiet of my home before the sun has even risen for the day, I take note. I spend time in prayer. I adopt this verse into my prayer life. So, I found myself praying these words:

“Tune my heart, God. Tune my heart.”

I imagine you are not much different than me. You and I both have desires, wants, and longings, some of which cause our hearts to need a little tuning. Often times in our lives, the things we want so badly become our greatest focus, and before we even realize it, we want God less because we want things more. It’s time, friends, to start asking God to tune our hearts.

God, meet us where we’re at, show us in what ways our lives are no longer in tune with you, and bring us back. Cause our hearts to beat once again in unison with yours. Tune our hearts, God.