I was leading worship not long ago and we were about to sing one of my favorite songs. The band had an awesome intro and we had the congregation up on their feet, clapping, and about to blow the roof off the place. The crowd was pumped and we hadn’t even started singing yet! The energy was amazing!
The drums were pounding, the bass was vibrating in my chest, the electric guitars had this great lead going on, and off I went…bustin’ out like a rock star…when very quickly I realized that I was in the wrong key! For those of you who aren’t musically inclined, that means I was singing loud and proud, but strong and wrong! Very wrong! The band was playing one tune and I was singing another. A “wrong-key” intro is an automatic “crash and burn” and it was quite embarrassing to say the least.
I hate to make mistakes. One mistake like that could haunt me for three sleepless nights, tossing and turning, wondering how I could mess up like that on the Sabbath…leadin’ the singin’…in the sanctuary? Ahhhh! But I’ve learned and I’m still learning that God does not expect perfection from me. I think sometimes we get “excellence” mixed up with “exactness.”
God just wants a heart He can use. All gifts aside, He really just needs someone who will show up. Humbling, isn’t it? But what a load off! I have a long list of embarrassing moments, but there’s not one moment that God, in His infinite grace, couldn’t have used if He needed to, with or without my help. So be encouraged!
If you have a willing heart, there’s nothing God can’t do through you. Sing it loud and sing it proud…and let God do the rest. He will. And by the way, as soon as I get to Heaven, the first thing I’m going to do is audition for the Band with my new “glorified” voice. I can’t wait to lead worship…heavenly hosts as my back-up singers…band going crazy on the intro…and me…bustin’ out like a rock star!
Memory Verse:
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
-2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
Prayer Prompt:
“Lord, what a relief to know that I do not have to be perfect or have it all together in order to be used by You! You take my feeble attempts to honor and serve You and turn them into life-changing events…for me and sometimes for those who are in range of the grace splashing around me. Thank You for the talents and gifts You’ve entrusted to my care. Give me the courage to bust out like a…”
Contributing:
DeeDee Sharon
Leave a Reply