All to God

One thing I really struggle with, and sometimes without realizing it, is giving everything to God. I think this is actually one of the hardest things to do, even though it might sound like the easiest. However, I believe once you get into a routine, this becomes second nature, and really, improves every aspect of your life.

I really do struggle with this though (although I've become much better). Especially when it comes to giving thanks, or even giving glory to God. A lot of times, I get sucked into this atmosphere of focusing on what I'm doing, and how my successes are to do with what I've done.

An example is from a few years ago when I travelled to a church to play guitar with a worship team leading there. I really thought I was something special to be asked to join this team. I thought it was a testament to my skill, to the fact that I was a pretty good guitar player. So my whole attitude going into the service was to act as a professional, really pretending that I was a star. I never had a single thought about the people coming through the doors, or even the work that God would do through the ministry of music.

As soon as I walked through the doors of this church, I was struck by the presence of God. The church was an older church, with wooden pews, stained glass windows, a balcony of seats, and an immense painting from floor to ceiling. At first it was the old beauty of the church that shocked me, but as I thought about it, I really started to feel something stirring within myself. The beauty of the church just reminded me of the beauty of God's work. Who was I to think I had even done this small thing when this beautiful building with an incredible history brought family after family, person after person into its midst every week to gather to share in the same faith that other churches worldwide are celebrating at that exact same time?

"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17 ESV

And that's the thing. No matter what we do, no matter how far we go, no matter our successes, nothing will match what God has done for us, and for this world. We can't even start to compare our works to God's, because there is nothing to compare! This might sound depressing, but really, it should be inspiring.

First, we should be inspired by all that God has done for us, and through us. If you can't see Him at work around you, then you aren't looking closely enough. Secondly, we should want to continue to succeed in life because it means that God is succeeding through us. Success is by no means a bad thing. In fact, it can be an incredibly useful tool of evangelism, amongst other things. But the key is to do everything with the right mindset. And that's the mindset of constantly looking for God in this world.