The Twelve String

Posted by Dion Todd September 17th, 2024 1,061 Views 27 Comments

Give thanks to Yahweh with the lyre. Sing praises to him with the harp of ten strings. Psalm 33:2 WEB.

She was a Fender twelve-string acoustic guitar, a dark red sunburst, and in perfect tune. When I ran my fingers across the strings, I knew two things. 1: It was the most beautiful-sounding instrument I'd ever picked up. 2: I had to have one. Now, I'm not much of a guitar player, but even running your fingers across the strings sounded beautiful and full. She was as pretty as the sound she made, and it was difficult to make her sound bad, at least at the beginning of our relationship.

Later, as she got played and went through temperature changes, she became out of tune. What a change that was. Now when you strummed across the strings, it sounded something like a bag of screaming cats. No one could make that sound good. Everything that had previously been right with it now seemed horribly wrong. All because she was out of tune.

I spent some painful time getting her tuned back up. Anyone who has tuned a twelve-string guitar knows what I am talking about. But afterward, she sounded beautiful and full once again. She just needed to be kept in tune to produce that great sound.

So it is with us. When we are in tune with the Lord's plan, our life is beautiful and full, and we are a joy to be around. But after being played for a while by others, we can become flat, sharp, or a bit of both. We begin to make irritating noises no one likes. And it is all because we have slipped out of tune with Him.

The good news is that no matter how out of tune you are, the Lord can fix you. He can restore what is missing. He can make the bad and the sad into the great and the joyful. The way to get in tune with the Lord again is by getting somewhere quiet and talking to Him like you would a friend. It is the Lord Jesus who beautifully tunes us, polishes, and cares for us. With His help, we will become the very best version of ourselves. That will be something beautiful.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please lead me into all You have in store for me. May Your perfect will be done in my life. You told us that Your sheep hear Your voice and another they will not follow. Teach me to recognize when You are speaking to me. Keep me in tune with You, Lord. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

Note: “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:12-13) ~ If you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network. If you are interested in joining the prayer team, here is how to get started Prayer Partners.