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Last Sunday, my pastor had us open to the book of Philippians and read this verse:
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.”
Uh oh, I thought. I’m in trouble.
I really, really want to live my life for the Lord. I want to do things that matter. I want to leave a lasting impression on this earth, to touch people’s hearts, to lift their spirits, to turn their eyes toward our wonderful Savior.
And yet, me, myself, and I often get in the way.
Because it’s so, so easy to do things for our own glory.
In a small way, I’ve been “in the spotlight” for a lot of my life. I’ve been acting and singing on stage since I was 6 years old and I currently serve in the music ministry at our church. I love singing my heart out for the Lord, reminding others of his love. There is something about music that speaks to my heart and stirs something inside of me that almost nothing else can stir.
But I’ve struggled with the spotlight. There were times in the past when I thought I was pretty awesome because, hey, people liked my singing! They thought I was great! And an ego boost can be heady stuff.
For awhile, singing became about me, not about praising my Lord and using the gifts HE GAVE ME to glorify Him.
The Lord has also given me a passion for writing, and right now, I’m trying to write a novel and succeed at getting it published. But I’ve really had to evaluate why I want to do this. Is it because I want the fame? The influence? Because I want to see my name in print? Because I want my ego boosted?
Or is it because I want to glorify my Maker, to show believers and non-believers alike that God is good and faithful, that He loves us beyond compare, and that He has a plan for each of us?
My prayer is for God to make these the song lyrics of my heart:
“It’s all about you, Jesus. And all this is for you, for your glory and your fame. It’s not about me, as if you should do things my way. You alone are God, and I surrender to your will.”
Your Turn: What are some of your favorite Bible verses or song lyrics that talk about glorifying God?
*photo courtesy of flickr*
I love that song "Not too Far from Here" about helping others. It touches me every time. My favorite scripture is in 2 Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Great post!
Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Nisa!
I haven't heard that song. I'll have to go take a listen.
And that's a wonderful verse. It reminds us that God has gone before us and given us the tools to carry out His will for us.
Such an essential thing to evaluate throughout this entire writing process: Who am I doing this for?
Excellent!
~ Wendy
Wendy, I'm glad to know I'm not alone in my need to stop and evaluate my motives!
Thank you for your honesty and vulnerability. We all struggle in areas, I know I have been evaluating my motives for wanting to be published as well.
A song that I really like right now is Casting Crowns "Praise You In This Storm".
While I am not currently in a storm (thank God) I want to always remember to praise him, for he is worthy of praise in the good times and the bad.
I LOVE that song, TC! It's such a good reminder.
Love your honesty in this post, Lindsay. I'm a firm believer that if He's called you, He'll equip you. And no matter how much we focus on ourselves, it will all happen in HIS timing. (I'm learning that firsthand these days.) 🙂
Thanks for your encouragement, Sarah! I definitely believe that too. 🙂 I just need to pray that God helps me take myself out of the equation and focus on Him.
Amen, Lindsay! When Gail Gaymer Martin talked about writing for a purpose, that really spoke to me. I remember well the night when the Lord took over the writing of "The Dragon Forest". It became a project for His purpose and not my own.
When I spoke to the kids today and saw how enthusiastic and grateful they were to have me come see them, I thanked the Lord all the way home for that little book.
It may never sell 3 million copies or win awards….but that book allowed me to meet some wonderful kids today and see their smiling faces. What a gift! What a treat!
God is good. Give Him your everything.
Blessings,
Ruth
Ruth, it's so cool when God gives us little confirmations along the way that we're going down the path where He's leading us! I'm so glad you had a good experience today.
Lindsay, I am giving you The Tell Me About Yourself Blog Award!
You can read all about it in my post on Thursday, November 17. Don’t worry, if you don’t have time to participate, that’s A-OK with me, but if you’d like to participate, here are the rules:
Thank the person who awarded you, blog about it, list seven things about yourself, and list 15 other blogs you would like to pass the award on to.
Blessings!
Thanks, Cheryl! I'd love to participate. I'll email you tomorrow with a few questions/clarifications. 🙂