Geoff Bullock, writer of so many classic worship songs has been re-writing them, re-focusing their words on God’s works rather than our own. Signposts has been posting these rewrites, with the originals for comparison.

In the comments for ‘I will never be‘ (probably my favourite Geoff Bullock song) Geoff explains why he is doing this:

The main reason for the rewrites is to simply take the focus from "what we do for God" to give us a sense of spiritual affirmation and placing it firmly on "what God has done and is doing for us". I am convinced that what I think, do or say about God will always prove my inability to be anything else but grace dependant. However, what God "thinks, does and says" about me is a miracle that can never be fully grasped. It is simply too wonderful. How could we ask this of the Creator of the universe. Thinking about it just spins me out. God.. do we really understand the enormity of those three letters…. God reduces himself to humanity so we can know and say:

"You have walked my path,
You have run my race
So I may never be the same again."

I just cannot say or sing it the other way anymore. I am totally stuffed if I do the walking and running. There’s nothing to celebrate about my actions… but, what God does… can’t stop celebrating.. just blows me away, and I have to ask myself whether we really understand it at all!!!

I think the clearest example of the how the rewrites have changed is in ‘Have faith in God’

Original

Oh Lord you lead me
By the still waters
Quietly restoring my soul
You speak words of wisdom
The promise of glory
The power of the presence of God.

New Version

Oh Lord you lead me
By the still waters
Quietly restoring my soul
You speak words of wisdom
sweet words of comfort
The grace and the mercy of God

Not ‘power & glory’ but ‘grace & mercy’. That’s the focus.