“As for God, His way is perfect.” (Psalm 18:30)
During my second year of college, I started writing songs in hopes of edifying others with my experiences. It was a way for me to tell people about the lessons that God has taught me and the many blessings in my life. I finished and recorded my first song halfway through my sophomore year. However, instead of asking God for inspiration, I relied on my own knowledge and understanding. I knew how I wanted the song to sound, and I did things my own way. In the end, the song was so terrible that I discarded it completely. I learned my lesson. Rather than relying on my limited knowledge of music theory and lyricism, I should pray. I asked God to inspire me and show me what He wanted me to write, everything from lyrics down to the piano accompaniment itself. Two months later, I recorded my second song. I finished the song in 3 days as opposed to the 3 months it took me to finish my first song. Instead of worrying about my singing or how well I could play the piano, I put my heart into the recording and let God do the work. In the end, I was able to create something much more beautiful with God than I could ever imagine just relying on my own skills.
In our lives, how often do we try to do things our own way? How often do we rely on our own knowledge to get things done? Whether it involves writing a song or article, delivering a sermon, or giving a testimony, we want to do it wholeheartedly for God. However, at times we become confident in our own skills and vision of how things ought to be, and we forget to rely on God. Our definition of “perfect” may comprise of how well we can write or speak, but God’s way does not rely on our superficial abilities. Rather, He moves us with His Holy Spirit. And through His perfect Spirit, we are able to touch others. If we can step back and let God do the writing, we may be surprised just how beautiful it can be.