Talk about perfect timing!
Last nite I was exhausted after the performance, greeting people who came to watch Claire, and then getting our butts to the airport to pick up my husband. So....by the time I got everyone settled, it was midnite and I neglected to read my evening devotional book that I have been going through since June.
I just read it this morning for the Nov. 20th entry. God is so amazing...the devotional was all about how we don't have to perform to receive His Love. I just thought that was such perfect timing, considering that the HizKidzPraise performance was last evening.
I had been telling my "ballerina" daughter that she is to perform for an Audience of One. Meaning, yes.....it is awesome to perform most excellently for the director, the other cast members, the audience. But that most of all, she is to perform as though she is worshipping God. It is for HIS glory. Not to receive praise from the director or dance teachers or choreographer or Mommy/Daddy, friends but to just show the Love of God through her dance. I wonder just how much a 10 year old gets this. I believe she is starting to.......
The devotional went on to say that by focusing on our "performance" (good works, ministry, etc) we are actually being pulled away from Jesus towards Pharisaism. It is actually a form of idolatry: worshipping our own good works! And then, if we "mess up" or don't meet our own high expectations, we will feel discouraged. And we all know where discouragement leads to. Satan can really get ahold of our emotions through that and turn the positive into negative.
We need to turn our performance focus to His radiant Love. His Love shines down on us no matter our feelings or behavior. It is our job to be receptive to this Love.
Trust and thankfulness is what triggers this. We need to trust Him at all times! And thank Him for everything. Simple disciplines but ones that we often overlook.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith---and this not from yourselves. It is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8&9
"Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge." Psalm 62:8
"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the Love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:17b-19
Are you performing for an Audience of One?
And are you keeping in mind why you are performing?
Is your focus on His unconditional Love??
Last nite I was exhausted after the performance, greeting people who came to watch Claire, and then getting our butts to the airport to pick up my husband. So....by the time I got everyone settled, it was midnite and I neglected to read my evening devotional book that I have been going through since June.
I just read it this morning for the Nov. 20th entry. God is so amazing...the devotional was all about how we don't have to perform to receive His Love. I just thought that was such perfect timing, considering that the HizKidzPraise performance was last evening.
I had been telling my "ballerina" daughter that she is to perform for an Audience of One. Meaning, yes.....it is awesome to perform most excellently for the director, the other cast members, the audience. But that most of all, she is to perform as though she is worshipping God. It is for HIS glory. Not to receive praise from the director or dance teachers or choreographer or Mommy/Daddy, friends but to just show the Love of God through her dance. I wonder just how much a 10 year old gets this. I believe she is starting to.......
The devotional went on to say that by focusing on our "performance" (good works, ministry, etc) we are actually being pulled away from Jesus towards Pharisaism. It is actually a form of idolatry: worshipping our own good works! And then, if we "mess up" or don't meet our own high expectations, we will feel discouraged. And we all know where discouragement leads to. Satan can really get ahold of our emotions through that and turn the positive into negative.
We need to turn our performance focus to His radiant Love. His Love shines down on us no matter our feelings or behavior. It is our job to be receptive to this Love.
Trust and thankfulness is what triggers this. We need to trust Him at all times! And thank Him for everything. Simple disciplines but ones that we often overlook.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith---and this not from yourselves. It is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8&9
"Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge." Psalm 62:8
"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the Love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:17b-19
Are you performing for an Audience of One?
And are you keeping in mind why you are performing?
Is your focus on His unconditional Love??
2 comments:
Amen... He's done it all! Your advice to your dancing daughter is so apt... perform to an audience of One!
So glad your DH is home now. :~D
HI E-mom! yes, we are happy that he is back....thanks for visiting here!
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