Voice - Real Consecration - Sealed Orders Part 6

This is one in a series of posts, sharing the Sealed Orders devotions, day by day, from CMI 2010.  They are based on the "Consecration Hymn," Salvation Army Songbook #525

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At CMI, we hear and participate in worship with the best talents around.  We are so grateful for the way God has gifted each of us – and it’s wonderful that those gifts come in so many different ways for each of us.

Perhaps you have heard music this week that has been technically perfect – all the notes, articulations and phrasing are correct, but it seems to fall flat.  Then there have been moments when you hear a solo from an untrained voice – maybe the tone isn’t quite right or the notes sound a little flat – and yet our souls and hearts were moved.

Perhaps that is how God transforms a consecrated voice.

While practice and accuracy are important to everything we do for God, without giving him the voice itself, our voice will make no impact on its own.  Refined notes without a refined heart are empty.

Now, before you use that as an excuse to miss practice time, remember that everything starts with a consecrated heart.  Consecrating our voices means that we will give more effort – not less, because we want to do our best for God as we worship Him.

Matt Redman wrote a song to reintroduce music to his congregation.  He thought that music and the “mechanics” of worship seemed to have a higher priority than the worship itself.  So he removed music from services at his church for several months.  When he felt the priorities were in the right order, he brought the music back with this song:

When the music fades
All is stripped away, and I simply come
Longing just to bring something that's of worth
That will bless Your heart

I'll bring You more than a song, for a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You, all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You, all about You, Jesus

Take a moment to think about your music.  Is music the focus, or is it really all about Jesus?

Think through a favorite worship song (use the Consecration Hymn or Matt Redman’s song above if you want).   As you think through the song, pray that God will help you consecrate your efforts in worship.

Let Him have more than the song.  Let Him have more than your voice. 

Let Him have your heart.

Follow Your Heart - Good Advice from the #Bachelor?

 

I keep thinking about "The Bachelor".  I guess it really shook me up - all that honesty and everything.

Something stuck with me that Jake kept saying in the show - "I just have to follow my heart."  Sounds so romantic.  

Maybe you have said something like it before.  "I did it because I felt like it."  "My heart wasn't in it anymore."  

I am guilty of saying these things too.  Very treacherous words.

Actually, it's a convenient excuse.  A cover-up for selfishness.

It also ended up a way for Jake to explain his choice of fiance without hurting feelings or taking responsibility (or so he thought).

In reality, while following one's heart sounds like a good decision making strategy, it ends up being poor theology.

After all, the heart is fickle.  If we followed our heart at every turn, we'd end up with a new romance every month, regardless of marriage commitment.  I heard recently that those who contact an "old flame" after getting married are 18 times more likely to have it end in an extra-marital affair.

Please don't follow your heart.

The Bible says,

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6

In other words, don't trust your heart - trust God.  The heart changes.  Our feelings will lead us in a different direction each day.

Again, it says,

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." - Colossians 3:1-2

God invites us to set our hearts on Him and His ways.  How generous, when we understand what a poor track record we have following our heart.

The heart is a good follower; not a good leader.

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