Song:

Psalm 51:10

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

There comes a point in life when we stop asking, “Why did everyone leave?” and start asking a harder question:

“What part did I play in getting here?”

King David reached that place. After his failures and the damage they caused, he stopped making excuses and turned to God. He didn’t ask for his reputation back. He didn’t ask for everyone to trust him again.

He asked God to change his heart.

That’s where restoration begins.

When relationships are broken, our first instinct is often to fix the relationship. But God starts somewhere deeper. He starts with us.

A softened heart. A humble spirit. A willingness to admit where we’ve been wrong.

The good news is that God specializes in restoring broken things. He can heal wounds, rebuild trust, and redeem years that seem wasted. Some relationships may never fully return, but God can still restore the person looking back from the mirror.

If you’re carrying regret today, don’t start by chasing people.

Start by chasing God.

Get down on your knees and ask Him to create in you a clean heart.

Prayer

Father,

Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. Forgive my failures, soften my pride, and help me become the person You want me to be. Where relationships can be restored, give me courage and humility. Where they cannot, give me peace.

Thank You for Your mercy, Your grace, and Your promise to never give up on me.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Writing

Hey old man
Whatcha gonna do
When you’re feelin blue
Cuz they ragged on you
And they put you in the SHU
And then they flew… away

Hey old man
Whatcha gonna do
When they tag you out
Cuz you had a little bout
Your life looks like a rout
Now you’re on the out… side

Hey old man
Whatcha gonna do
When you roll the dice
And you can’t pay the price
Or make the sacrifice
You’re not given a slice…of their time

Hey old man
Whatcha gonna do
Get down on your knees
Pray for the keys
To thaw the freeze
And unlock the squeeze…they have on you

Song Lyrics

HOOK
Hey old man
Whatcha gonna do
When you’re feelin’ blue
‘Cause they rag’d out on you
And they put you in the SHU
And then they flew away
Hey old man
Whatcha gonna do
When the phone don’t ring
And the hurt still stings
And the silence brings
Every broken thing
Back again
VERSE 1
Used to walk around
Like I owned the room
Everybody knew my name
Now nobody comes through
Thought I had the answers
Thought I had it right
Thought if people disagreed
I’d just win another fight
Burned some bridges
Lit a few more
Kept score of wrongs
Always settled the score
Now the house gets quiet
When the sun goes down
A lot of empty chairs
When nobody’s around
You can blame the crowd
You can blame your fate
But sometimes the man in the mirror
Is the one you gotta fight
HOOK
Hey old man
Whatcha gonna do
When they tag you out
‘Cause you had a little bout
Your life looks like a rout
Now you’re on the outside
Hey old man
Whatcha gonna do
When the folks you loved
Have all had enough
And they finally drew the line
And walked away this time
VERSE 2
Spent a lot of years
Pointing fingers around
Talking about everybody else
While I stood my ground
Had a reason for everything
At least that’s what I thought
Till I started counting up
Everything it cost
Lost some trust
Lost some years
Lost some people
Lost some tears
You can tell yourself stories
You can rewrite the past
But eventually the truth
Comes around at last
One night I sat alone
With nothing left to say
And for once in my life
I didn’t look away
BRIDGE1
No speeches
No excuses
No one left to blame
Just me and God
And all my shame
HOOK
Hey old man
Whatcha gonna do
Get down on your knees
Pray for the keys
To thaw the freeze
And unlock the squeeze
They have on you
VERSE 3
I said Lord I’m tired
Of the man I’ve been
Tired of the pride
Tired of the sin
Tired of pretending
Everybody else was wrong
When You’ve been trying to tell me
That all along
You weren’t waiting
For me to explain
You were waiting
For me to change
And mercy came softly
It wasn’t a shout
More like a hand reaching in
When I was reaching out
Not because I earned it
Not because I’m good
But because Jesus did for me
What nobody else could
VERSE 4
Started making phone calls
Started writing notes
Not to make demands
Not to get their votes
Just an honest apology
Nothing more
For the wounds I caused
And the slammed doors
Some folks listened
Some folks didn’t
Some relationships healed
Some stayed distant
Turns out restoration
Ain’t a switch you flip
Sometimes it’s one small step
One long trip
But little by little
Things began to grow
The man I used to be
Started letting go
BRIDGE2
And if you’re sitting there
With your own regrets
Carrying old wounds
You ain’t buried yet
There is grace for the broken
Mercy for the lost
Hope for the wanderer
At the foot of the cross
The road back home
May be long and hard
But God can rebuild
What fell apart
FINAL HOOK
Hey old man
Whatcha gonna do
When you’ve reached the end
And you need a friend
Look up above
To the God of love
He can make you new
Hey old man
Whatcha gonna do
Bow your head
Raise your eyes
Let the old man die
And let God’s grace
Carry you through
Yeah let God’s grace
Carry you through

I said Yeah let God’s grace
Carry you through

Copyright © 2014 by SkylerThomas