For His Glory

For His Glory

Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Colossians 3:17

Sally’s nephew asked her to sing two solos at his wedding, which was to be held in an enormous sanctuary in front of many family members and friends. Sally had sung at their little church in the country, but singing in a big metropolitan church would be another matter.

“Lord, help me to get my breath, to sound good, to not get emotional,” Sally prayed. She so wanted to shine. But when the time came for her solos, nerves and the formality of the occasion got the best of her, and she lost all voice control, had an attack of coughing, and lost her breath during the last song. To her it seemed like a disaster. Afterward, humiliated and angry at God, she vowed she’d never sing in public again. It seemed he hadn’t helped her do the very thing she’d so wanted to do well.

After a time, though, Sally was asked to sing at a worship service in her small country church, and she accepted. Since she didn’t have time to prepare anything new, she chose to sing the same song she’d sung for the wedding. That Sunday morning, as she struggled again with fears about her “performance,” God whispered to her heart, Who created you, Sally? Who made your voice?

“You made me, Lord,” she answered, “and you made my voice.”

Yes, your voice is mine, and I will use it. It’s not for your glory but for mine.

That Sunday morning Sally’s singing was totally different. Instead of focusing on herself and her voice, she focused on the One who had given her that voice. With a new freedom, she sang beautifully without a hitch and gave God her heartfelt thanks and praise. The fear that had caused her to lose voice control was gone, replaced by a new joy and confidence, not in herself but in God. —CHERI

Lord, so often I have my eyes on myself and my abilities or disabilities. Forgive me, and help me to do everything for your glory and by your grace. May my focus be you, wonderful Savior, and not myself.

God can do great things with our lives, if we but give them to him in sincerity.

—ANNA ROBERTSON BROWN LINDSAY (1864–1948), WRITER AND POET