Here is the way God always works - we prepare first and then He opens the doors - not the other way around. We are to prepare and be ready even when we do not see any door yet open! That is called faith in what God has purposed in your heart and called you to do and be about! In the world, often it is the opposite from the way things operate in the kingdom of God. As dancers and artists and performers, sometimes, we are used to having people ask us to prepare in advance for a certain event or "performance" and so we are eager to commit. If God is truly calling you to worship Him with your gifts, your talents, your dance, your art, there will always be a sacrificial time of preparation, and, often, you will not know what God has in mind or how He desires to use you, but you answer "the call" by faith (this may involve setting some other things in your life aside even for just a season?). We know we have all already been blessed just by our gathering together as a group of "Restoration Artists" to worship, to pray, to grow, to encourage each other, to be stretched to move spontaneously, etc. God is pleased when we are content with just being in His presence - for that purpose alone - playing at His feet, dancing, loving and worshiping Him (just as little children do in the presence of God - we have to become as a little child & keep that in mind)! God is our audience of One. I believe He desires to be the "first place" audience (if you will) before He allows us to have any other audience (especially in the area of praise and worship) - because it cannot be a show for others - it must be worship unto Him! Be reminded that God knows the times and seasons of our lives and He planted you at this place and time in history for "such a time as this". You might just be the one, even as a youth, that God desires to move through to inspire another to answer "the call" to use their gifts solely for God's glory. Sometimes, we think - "I am waiting on God to open up a door", but, perhaps(?), God is waiting on you, so He can open up His divine door at the right time.
Romans 12:1-2 (NLT) - And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
This passage tells us to present our bodies - our whole selves unto God - which is just considered what is our "reasonable act of service" (NKJV) or "spiritual worship" and then, we will know what is God's perfect and pleasing will. We are not told that God will tell or show us completely and specifically all He has planned or prepared or desires us to experience or walk in, or reveal His sovereign will for our lives first, and then we can present ourselves to Him - but, instead, we are told to present ourselves or "offer" ourselves to Him first and then some things will become known or revealed (some doors might begin to open as He leads, etc.). This goes beyond meaning just our hearts, our devotion, our worship, etc., but it truly means all of who we are, and that includes our gifts and abilities that all come from Him!
Keep moving in Him - In Him, we live and move and have our being... Acts 17:28
Jennifer
"All things are from Him and through Him and to Him, to Him be the glory forever! Amen." Romans 11:36
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