Music has always been a part of my life. Whether gathering around the piano to sing Christmas carols, crooning out Patridge Family hits to my electric guitar, or singing oldies with my family driving home from grandpa’s farm; my fondest childhood memories revolve around music. Two years after I accepted Christ, I sang my first duet in church with my brother, and I was hooked. I just knew God wanted me to be in full time ministry!
I tried for years to make that dream a reality, but it didn’t happen. As I look back now, much older and hopefully wiser, I ask myself why. Why did I want to sing and travel in ministry? If I’m really honest with myself, I wanted the fame. Sure, there was an element of service; I’d sing Christian songs and even pray for people after my concert, but at the center of my desire, was my own glory. I wanted to feel special, to be somebody. It was all about me!
As I approach the second half of my journey, how do I answer that question, and how do I change my focus? First of all, I know who I am in Christ. I no longer need the applause of the crowd or the approval of others to feel important. I am secure in God’s love for me. Nothing I do could ever make Him love me more than He does right now, and nothing could ever make Him love me less.
Since I have nothing to gain from music ministry, I can focus fully on what I have to give.
My highest goal is to give glory to God; in the songs I sing, the words I say, my actions, attitudes, and in the love I show to others. It’s all about Him, His greatness, His goodness, His plan, and His purpose! And God is all about people. “For God so loved…that He gave.” Jesus came, “not to be served, but to serve and to give His life…” That’s the manner and the message He gave us to communicate as His ambassadors.
The reason we sing,
The reason we lift our voice,
Is more than just making harmony.
The reason we sing
Is to praise the one who gave His Son to be
The reason we sing.
May I be so bold as to ask, why do you sing? What is your focus? Are you making music for your glory or for the glory of God? Do you seek to love the people you sing for more than you want the people to love you?
I know for me, that God keeps me humble and focused on Him, because I ASK HIM:
Lord, please HELP me with this music!
For it is YOUR music!
I can’t do this alone. I NEED YOU GOD!!!!!! PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And when I get some music or words, after I pray that prayer; the Lord graciously provides a song from Him. , I know they come from Him, for I admitted my helplessness before Him.
And really, NOBODY, including ME would want THEIR talent, or ability to shine. For how FUTILE is that! When ALL good gifts come from HIM, and are for HIS purposes!!!!!! And are to go BACK to Him for HIS GLORY!!!!!! Yes, to LOVE other people with HIS LOVE!
How UNSATISFYING and USELESS that people would be drawn to “OUR” music! Where IS the REALITY and the GLORY of God in that???!!!!
God will not be seen, if WE want to be seen! We must want with ALL of our heart, mind, and soul to have GOD be seen in our music. Then the music of Heaven can come down to earth. For God will not refuse a humble soul who truly wants what HE wants! He wants us all to TRULY desire HIM and HIS sweet, sweet words, when we go to see Him for eternity, face to face.
WELL DONE! THOU GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ENTER INTO THE JOY OF THY MASTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Paula Disbrow
And I want to add: When I get a song from God. I make a habit now of PRAISING and THANKING HIM for blessing me with a song from His heart. I right then and there GLORIFY HIM and acknowledge that the song has come from HIM! And He fills me with HIS JOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And once again…. HE SINGS OVER ME WITH JOY! Zephaniah 3;17
The LORD your GOD is WITH you,
He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with SINGING!
For a very encouraging discussion of the REALITY of the above verse,
PLEASE go to this website:
http://wordafire.net/godsings.htm
BE ENCOURAGED in the LORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Paula Disbrow