The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation

"The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous" (E.S.V., 2001, Psalm 118:14-15). My God has put a "new song in my mouth, a song of praise" to our Lord Jesus Christ, and "Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD" (E.S.V., 2001, Psalm 40:3). 

I watched a movie yesterday afternoon, God's Not Dead  (2014). There is a scene where a university professor of philosophy is desperate to 'win' his love back. He realises that the woman of his dreams, his girlfriend who has left him, is precious to him. In the process, he recognises how cold his heart has become since losing his mother to cancer at the age of 12. He was a believer, a Christian but from this point on he remained angry at God, becoming bitter in the process and claiming atheism as the answer to his problems.

Needless to say, in this particular scene, he is walking to a Christian concert to win his love back. As he crosses the street he is hit by a car. The driver refuses to stop and drives on. As it so happens, a church pastor and missionary are the first to his aid. They recognise that the man is desperate and will not survive. Openly and with desperation they ask the man, the professor if he believes in Jesus. Would he like to be saved and forgiven of all his sins? The man accepts and then dies. 

What will it be like for all of us? Will the 'Lord be our strength and song?' Will he be 'our salvation?' Will a person, God's creation, soften their hearts, allowing for a 'new song' in their lives, in their hearts? I can't imagine the fear of an atheist when their lives are about to pass from this earth. Dear God, please help me to understand people from their perspective and life's journey, from their experience, and to speak to their hearts of your love for them. In Jesus' name. 

   A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell     on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the     sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew      up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.                                (E.S.V., 2001, Matthew 13:3-8).

Dear Lord Jesus, help me to have eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to feel. I thank you, Lord for the gift of intuition, especially through the guidance, wisdom, and discernment of the Holy Spirit. It is not by "might, nor by power", but through your "Spirit" that you, Lord Jesus will direct me to those who have soft hearts and are ready for your word (E.S.V., 2001, Zephaniah 4:6).
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Lord Jesus, I pray for great faith, hope, and perseverance, knowing that as the 'sower' brings forth the word of God, the Gospel and good news; knowing that there will be some taken away by Satan, others that receive it joyfully without root or foundation, others with thorns and thistles surrounding them, others concerned with the riches and deceived by things of this world, and others who bear fruit, good fruit (E.S.V., 2001, Mark 4:13-20). Lord Jesus, I pray for discernment and wisdom. Amen.