Perform - to carry out, do; to act or carry out an action; to give a performance. 

Looking back over my life, I have performed a lot! I was in children's choirs at church, numerous piano recitals, and high school choirs in which I sang or played the piano as an accompanist. In college, I was a vocal major and spent 4 years performing. Even now, I still play the organ and sing at church.

However, somewhere along the way, those performances turned into a way of life and ministry. I'm so very grateful that God showed me a better way and rearranged my thought process! 

I don't perform (musically or otherwise) because I have to do so. I want to use my gifts and talents to bless others and to be obedient to what God asks of me. I don't perform to earn God's love, but to offer my life back to Him so He can use my offerings as He chooses. 

"Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God's marvelous mercies? To surrender yourselves to God to be His sacred, living sacrifices. And lie in holiness, experiencing all that delights His heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship. Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God's will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in His eyes." Romans 12: 1-2 (TPT)

This post was prompted by Kate Motaung's "Five Minute Friday," which she hosts on the Five Minute Friday website. Kate posts a single word each week and each blogger sets a timer for 5 minutes to write and then posts, with little editing. (Some weeks I have more trouble with that part than others.) Check out the other writers this week!