Quick question! How many times have you wondered (whether aloud or not) why that particular lady in church is always given the mic to sing every Sunday? Or if that guy didn’t feel himself going off beat? (They will just be spoiling my favorite worship song sha). You guys are just very gracious so I know it’s just once or twice right (If I hear… lol).
Since we are being honest here though, my big confession is that I’m not as gracious as you are. I’ve done it countless times. Thankfully though, majority of those times have been within myself or with a few friends or family (nothing loud and rude. I promise on my scouts honor – wait! I was never a scout or is it guide, I don’t even know again…
One morning after coming in from a jog/ walk (Don’t worry I’m not trying to make you feel bad for your lack of exercise, it’ll be good for you though! Remind me about this when I stop again after 3 days :-P), My mum was listening to a sermon and of course, the lady leading worship was going off key big time. I was just sitting down jejely resting and stylishly listening to the lady. I didn’t even know that my mum was thinking what I was thinking. By the time she mentioned it, I was laughing too because it was really off. Like couldn’t she feel it?, that’s what I was thinking.
As is His custom lately, the Holy Spirit decided to chip in some wisdom and deliverance (hehehehe). What I heard in my Spirit sounded like this- “My priority is availability“. Well, that struck a chord. There I was, criticizing somebody who had just availed herself to worshipping her lover, Jesus Christ, and serving others through her worship. It didn’t look wise to me anymore (Jesus wrecks me in a good way).
I realized then that life with Jesus Christ is not about being the best or seemingly most talented at what He has called you to do. It is about being available “to walk with Him, work with Him and watch How He does it” (Matt 11:29 MSG). He saved us for companionship and friendship (How is companionship possible without availability, simply being there, close to Him?).
I’m learning everyday that it’s not about how much I can do for Him as much as it is about what I allow Him to do for me, in me and through me daily (That’s to say, don’t be scared about being available to Jesus, it’s part of any normal relationship)
Here’s some encouragement from God’s Spirit:
Romans 12:1 – So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.
This doesn’t mean we won’t get better at what we’ve been called to do. On the contrary, it means we’ll keep getting better by God’s own Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18 MSG – All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.
2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV – And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
Yours in Love ?,
Remi.
Thank you for reading Talent vs Availability – What Jesus Wants from You, I believe it was a good read, feel free to share your thought as a comment below. 😉
True… I sing in the church choir… But even I know that I don’t have the best voice (Bt I dnt go off ooo). Thr r so many oda choristers in my choir wt lovely voice (I get green Wt envy smtyms)… But they are never around to lead when needed.
Then I wonder… Y wl God bless someone Wt such a wonderful gift n d person won’t make good use of it… N here I am practically begging God to help my voice to use it beta fr Him…
I ran away frm leading even tho I was available until I realised the place of the Holy Spirit…
Now, each time I hold that mic, I get beta…
Wow! It’s so good to see what God can do when we are available. Thank you so much for sharing Damilola. 🙂
“My priority is availability.” Strong words of encouragement, Remi. Thanks for sharing!
Wonderful post
It serves as a big encouragement for me
I love singing but I always go off key *blush*
Most people say I have a nice voice (Thank God) although I could do with some training
I’ve run away from being in the choir for sooo long cause I wasn’t confident enough and was afraid of being teased but not until my service year(this year) when I joined the NCCF choir and it has been wonderful! 😀
I’m learning to sing better, I now know what it means to sing in parts and in unison, what soprano, alto, tenor and bass actually sound like and what so many other musical terms mean (so what if I didn’t know that before?) 😛
+ I’m no longer as tone deaf as before…I’m learning to differentiate notes
And this post has taught me a big lesson: That it’s not about how good my voice is but how available I am
No more shall I shy from leading praise/worship 😀
Btw Dami and the rest leave my off-key brethrens/sistrens alone 😀