"Being Humbled Before God"

Here lately, the words of a song in a prior entry have been speaking to my heart. I have received compliments throughout my life in different areas. I'm sure most of you have as well. However, more recently, the compliments, well-meant, have made me feel slightly uncomfortable. I found words that fully explain that feeling. A verse in "Sinner Saved by Grace" goes as follows:
How could i boast on anything
I've ever seen or done
how could I dare to claim as mine
the victories GOD has won
Where would I be
had GOD not brought me
gently to this place
I'm here to say I'm nothing but
a sinner
Saved by grace

Philippians 2:13 states, "God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey Him and the power to do what pleases Him." I have recently felt a change in my opinion of my talents/gifts. I have always felt very humble in the direction of my gifts, but never before have I felt humbled before my God for that with which He has blessed me. it is my desire now to give Him all the glory when I receive compliments. it is my desire to use those gifts to praise Him.

I have been trying to use things that I can do in a manner that would be pleasing to God. For instance, my writing ability. I have always know that writing came easily to me. it has served me well academically. However, only now have I recognized the need to use my gift to serve and praise God. i don't feel that I am some award-winning author. But I can't help but feel that there was more of a purpose to my capability than just acing my writing intensive classes. And who better to offer recognition for that talent? Not me, but God. it is because God has blessed me with the ease of writing, not by anything I myself have done.

In the same way, I feel that my gift of music is one that I should use to give glory to God. Maybe I'm not as good as others. I know that I'm not a professional level musician. That's not what God gave me. But, I do know that God gave me a certain level of musical talent. He blessed me with this gift so that I may in turn bless others with it.But, in doing so, I know that I must give credit where credit is due. I know that all that I have is a gift from God.

If there is anything that is good, it is God speaking/communicating through me. It is only with Him, that anything I have accomplished is possible. i cam humbled when I receive compliments, sometimes to the point of feeling uncomfortable. While very appreciative of any compliment, i also feel very unworthy. If I have touched anyone with my singing or my writing (or anything else for that matter), it is only by God's doing that he or she was touched.

My will for my life has changed. My passion in the the things I do has taken new life. i approach life in a different way. i quite often see things in a different light. Do these things sound like victories to you? I think so, but they are not mine. They are God's, for without him, I would have been totally lost long ago. Instead, He has allowed me to see things in a more positive light. he has helped me to overcome my challenges and shortfalls. He has done all of this and more for me. And by Him doing this, my new passion/zest/etc. has grown. By His gifts to me, I can return gifts to Him.

I can offer praise and thanks. I can sing His praise. i can share with you, through my writing, about what He has done in my life. i can do all this and more because of Him. But, the best/biggest thing I can do is to acknowledge that, while I have seen and done some awesome things, while I have had some great victories, the only way this was possible, the only way battles were won, was with God as my pilot. All of this was God.

And by acknowledging this and sharing this, God again blesses me. The more He gives me, the more I want to give Him. And the cycle continues. How can I not share this?! How can I not spread the news of my joy?! I have to do these things, but not for why you think...I have to do these things (sing, write, speak, etc.) because I cannot keep from crying out about the great things that my God has done for me!