Thirty-three days…
Psalm 33:3
Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy. (N.K.J.V.)
I love Psalm 33; the entire Psalm is beautiful. I have several verses marked with either highlighters or underlined in pen. Verse three is among my favorites. Seven years ago, I put my mind to learning to play the piano. I had always dreamt of having the ability to lead worship. For years I had sung on worship teams and lent my voice to different ensembles, but I had an innate desire to actually lead a congregation in worship through song. Because I didn’t have the opportunity to learn young, I thought I would never realize that dream. But, I did. I remember the first time I had the privilege to lead. Even though my intention was to worship and not worry about anything around me, nerves set in. My hands broke out into a sweat and began to shake. When it was time to cue the band for the first song, I played it in double time. I’m a fast talker to begin with, so singing in super speed almost felt natural. After the first song, I gained control, and it was smooth sailing from there. It wasn’t long after that I underlined Psalm 33:3 in my Bible and drew a box around the word skillfully.
God gives us these gifts that we might glorify Him. He desires the best for us and also from us. When I was learning chords, I would spend four hours a day at the piano. I did everything I could to play as fluently as possible as quickly as possible. Believe me, I can still use A LOT of practice, but my goal was to play well enough so that I would be able to worship and not think about the logistics of the music. If I feel perplexed when I sit down at a keyboard, my mind will be on the instrument and not on the Lord.
My story about leading worship is just an example of striving to give the best we can to God, so that we may be able to lay down our gifts as an offering. It doesn’t matter what age you have reached in life, if God has given you a gift, it’s not too late to use it. Whatever your dream might be, whether it’s receiving a formal education, learning an instrument, or simply putting to use a gift at which you are already skilled, you can do it.
God alone has made my path in many areas. I’m doing things in my life that by worldly standards, I would never be able to do.
Luke 18:27
But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. “ (N.K.J.V.)
1 Corinthians 9:24
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. (N.K.J.V.)
Discipline yourself, work on your gift, and be ready in season and out of season (2 Timothy 4:2). Fill yourself up with His word so that you will be able to stand strong in this evil world. Whatever God has called you to do, be the absolute best you can be at it. Give Him glory, and shout for joy. He is worthy to be praised!
