For your Glory

For Your Glory
Patricia Ang

“Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31). God made you as you are. He placed you where you are. So you can best serve and glorify Him. Some people always think that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. They spend so much time wishing things were different that they tend to overlook all the advantages and opportunities opened to them right where they are.

Our gifts and talents are all from God Himself. When we come together to serve Him in the respective ministries, we thank him for putting our gifts to good use and for allowing us to be instruments to serve Him. Take for instance, writing, singing and praying, these are some of the gifts we can use to serve Him for his glory.

As a writer in Spotlight, it has been an immense joy and peace writing for Him. Thanks to two of my fellow church friends who brought me to this ministry, one who introduced me to my Editor and the other who has been encouraging me in my writing. It has been spiritually fulfilling writing for Him.

Imagine 6000 parishioners who read the monthly Spotlight. Different people can relate to the articles in different ways. Reading the articles could be a way of opening up people, allowing them to relate the bible to their daily lives, it may also result in conversion and may even bring more people in church. I have met people coming up to me telling me it was a good article or looking forward to the next article in Spotlight. I tell them I thank the Lord for it is HE who inspires and guides me to write. Writing for the Lord is something I will gladly do for His glory. It is time well spent and it is spiritually fulfilling. Through writing, I yearn to know more about the word of God, to read more, to be in fellowship with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and to write in such a way that people are able to relate to the articles.

When one sings in the choir, we are giving Him praise and worship. A sense of peace and joy falls onto us. We lift up all our burdens and problems when we sing for Him. When we sing for the Lord, it’s a dual action – it is words with sounds, where one prays and sings to him simultaneously. When we sing, at times we raise up our hands to give Him thanks. It is also surrendering to Him in faith. We know that God is always there for us. When we ask him something in prayer, we need to trust and depend on him wholeheartedly. When singing, we use our whole body to glorify him. With our hands outstretched, we are in the form of a Y-shape, surrendering our lives to Him. He is our Majesty, our Rock and Refuge.

When singing for the Lord, there is a sense of joy and hope. We feel his presence within us. When I asked my friend what is the greatest satisfaction being in the choir, he said that it is witnessing the priceless smiles on the faces of fellow church members and coming together in fellowship to sing for His glory and to pray together as one big family. There is a sense of bonding and it is spiritually fulfilling. The biggest reward is to serve Him for his glory.

In prayer, when we come together for intercessory prayers, we pray together to lead people, to grow in confidence and faith. At times, praying teaches us to read the word of God for direction and guidance. It teaches one also to be patient and humble when asking to do the things according to the His will and timing.

When we pray we have to surrender all our rights and demands, and cease to be self-centered. We have to leave ourselves completely in His hands and then pour out of one’s life in the work of intercession. Pray for your friends and pray for those whom you come in contact with.

Our part in intercessory prayer is not to antagonize over how to intercede but to use the everyday circumstances and people that God puts around you by His providence to bring them before His throne and to allow to spirit in you the opportunity to intercede for them. “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God.” (Romans 8:28).

It is a joy to work for the Lord. It is rendering service back to God and to the Church. At times we can be very tired after a hard day’s work, but when we sing, write and pray for the Lord, it is indeed spiritually gratifying.

Don’t let life happen to you. Let life happen through you. Allow God’s life and love be channeled through me, blessing me so that I may be a blessing to others. Let’s seize every opportunity God gives us to serve others in His name and for his glory.