Presenting Your Musical Instrument...


"The Flamenco spanish-sounding guitar lay at the bottom of the pile of musical instruments. She took it out and proceeded to dust it up, removing cobwebs that had accumulated as a result of lack of use for the long period of a couple of years. Time waits for no man, she thought as she scrubbed it back into shape. She used a soft sponge so as not to cause a few scratches to the surface of her guitar. She couldn't wait to check the tuning and get each string close to the tuning peg. She couldn't wait to get the index finger of her right hand to strike each string and finally make music again. Music brought life into her atmosphere. Music was a phenomenal turn-around for a picturesque mind-frame. But she needed a teacher again. She needed someone to remind her...

So she took her guitar to the devil. He played a few notes, and she was reminded of a lot of things in her past. She stood up and began to dance, enjoying the comforting soothing sounds of familiarity. She laughed as she remembered the notes he played, she danced and laughed until she could do so no more. She practiced for a couple of weeks until she got tired of the lyrics. Then someone came into her life and introduced her to a new teacher.

There she was again. She took the same guitar and presented it to God. "God, please teach me how to play some new songs," she said. And God received her musical instrument...and He taught her some new things. He turned around the songs from the devil. She danced again, like she had never danced before. "I never knew I could experience anything better than my past," she said. And she knew there was no going back after this..."
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I used to think I was strong. I used to think I could get away with tricks. I used to think I could go a little way, but as far as I didn't go all the way with sin I was good. Little did I know that whoever I presented my guitar to would teach me how to play it and get comfortable, even to the extent of mastery. It's really not about me (or you), and it's really not about your instrument. It's about "who" you present your instrument to.

And so I read this last night, and it was what triggered this post ~ Romans 6:12-14, 16-19 "Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under the law but under grace...Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?... I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh"

See, never get so caught up in your prowess...never get caught up in your own strength. We are all "weak" when it comes to our flesh, no man is excluded. If you present your musical instrument (your body) to the devil, he will teach you how to play the strings. But if you present your whole body as a musical instrument to God, He will also teach you how to make it a temple. You only dance to the tunes of your teacher, and you play your strings from the lessons you have learnt. Who will you present your strings to? Choose this day...there are two teachers, but you only need one...

37 comments:

Ayomipo Matthew Edinger said...

jaycee, thank God for your spirit and the light that you beam. God bless you much more.

♥♫♪nyemoni♫♪♥ said...

Girlfriend, you are so inspiring...thanks for the message and have a fulfilled weekend...

Jennifer A. said...

Disgodkidd...God bless u too...

Nyemoni..have a fulfilled and enjoyable weekend too!!! May the seeds of the message grow inside of u...:)

HisPrincess said...

Iloved this post.
Thanks for putting an important message into such clear and visual language. You have a gift....and you are using if for God's glory! You are an inspiration.
Thank you.
Sharon.

uNWrItten* said...

HEY!..thanks for the comment..i love your blog too..been meaning to tell you..and this entry is sooo good..ill definitely be back!

take care!

Eyin'ju Oluwa said...

Love it, serious food for thought.

Lemme not say too much, and open my 'yansh'...but it has really ministered to me, thanks babe.

Anonymous said...

Very Deep ...

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing this. Your blogs are very inspirational and you've actually influenced me to use my blog to talk about God lately. So, thank you. :-)

Remi, United Kingdom said...

Hey, I'm in the first 10! lol.. okay let me go and read properly, will be back to comment... thanks for stopping by on my page Jaycee... much love

Remi, United Kingdom said...

God bless you Jaycee... "We are all "weak" when it comes to our flesh, no man is excluded." this is soo true!!! and it is only by the Grace of God that we are able to overcome every single day. It is by His grace that we lay on our beds at the end of the day and thank Him for the victory of that very day. It is by His grace that we are able to see the escape routes to the lust of the flesh that He presents to us daily. It is by His grace that we know to bring our "guitar" to him daily, to teach us a new song!
Girl, God bless u loads... I pray God keeps increasing and blessing you, and keeps showing you delights hidden in His word... much lovex

Writefreak said...

Word! Word!! Word!!! Preach it ma sistah!

Jinta said...

you're absolutely right abt how we present ourselves. i choose God as my teacher

For the love of me said...

God bless you as you continue to bless many of us with your inspiring posts.

7 said...

Very powerful analogy...I always say if you profess that you will never eat an apple and find yourself licking it, don't be surprised if before you know it you've sunk in your teeth and have juice dribbling all over your chin.

bighead said...

My favourite lines

...Little did I know that whoever I presented my guitar to would teach me how to play it and get comfortable, even to the extent of mastery. It's really not about me (or you), and it's really not about your instrument. It's about "who" you present your instrument to...

I think I could also add that mastery subtly sneaks in on the "player" without any sudden signals.

Anonymous said...

wow.u've got talent.very inspiring.and very colorful blog too.cheers

Jennifer A. said...

Hisprincess, thank God for that...God bless u!

Unwritten...:) :) :) (three smiles), thanks!!!!

Honeywell...U're more than welcome. There's this feeling of happiness/euphoria that comes with sharing stuff like this actually. I'm glad I did...maybe that's why Jesus told His disciples to go ye to the ends of the earth to share the good news...

Omosewa...ha ha ha...don't open it jare...it's all good. As far as God is concerned, it's the impact of the Word for your future, and not ur past...(*wink*)

Jasmine...I know, right?

Akin Aworan...wow, I'm really happy to hear that...now u've just succeeded in inspiring me too...it's like a round-about-circle of inspiration...whew!!!! I've really been enjoying ur blog too...God is good.

Remi...u don't even wanna know HOW weak we can be (lol)!!! I thank God so much for providing "escape routes" like u so nicely put it. AMEN to ur prayers...

Writefreak...yes o, yes o (in the words of tuface)...yes, I will.

Jinta...yessss...Whoever you present your instrument to will teach u how to play it WELL! Awww, I choose God too...I really do...He's the better teacher. I've also realized that the devil will give u something that is 70% good, and then take back 110% from you...so what's the use? Really...waste of time...it's better to go with God.

For the Love of me...amen. Amen! Thanks...

Ebony, yeah...it's just like staring at a stash of gold and saying u'll never touch it, then u walk close to it saying to urself, "I just want to see what it looks like up front." Before u know it...(the devil is a liar, he flashes things right in front of us that are only second-hand copies of the real deal from God).

Bighead...thinking deeply at ur conclusion...I really do concur. One really does not know when one becomes a Master of the very things one willed not to do in the past...it creeps upon u like a thief in the night...we really do have to be very careful when we make our choice, the devil's eyes will never get tired of watching us...

Shalewa...cheers to u too...have a wonderful remaining-part-of-the-weekend...:)Glad u dropped by this crib...

Anonymous said...

oh God this has to be one of the most beautiful thingsive read in weeks.. i absolutely loved it... very insightful, inspiring and true... thanks for this... so much food for thought... seriously i'll come back and re-read this.. the metaphor and message are both powerful... happy febuary my angel

InCogNaija said...

i like. another inspiring write-up!

Anonymous said...

This is definately one of the best of your posts I've read this year. So inspiring and articulate. Akp... :)
God teach me how to play my instrument so I can dance to your tunes. Also, daily renew my skills, so I can play the tunes that are right for each day.

Unknown said...

ANOTHER WONDERFUL WRITE UP...
enjoy ur week...

Sasuke said...

nice work jaycee..you clearly pack alot of inspiration...nice work

Unknown said...

this is really deep.

:-)

Allied said...

Weak we are - nothing we do for ourselves, its either we are used by God or the devil..

I pray i choose the former with all things in my life..

Great post as always

Thirty + said...

Thank you

Jennifer A. said...

ONB...I want "happy february angel" to just be ringing in my ears in the whole of this sweet month of february. Thank u soooo much!

InCog...*Hugs*

Olubern...thanks (*wink*).

MyStories...the start of the week has been making me ecstatic so far, I hope that continues. Have a crazily blessed week dearie!!!! :)

Sasuke...three gbosas to the Holy Spirit for this "piece." (*smile*)

Pamela...I know, right??? Pls make sure u have a joyous week, and know that u're too blessed to even have a hint of unhappiness in ur system! (*hugs*)

Allied...abi o. Weakness is like a disease, but thank God we have One who heals all our infirmities and makes us *Brand New* (so happy abt that). If the enemy likes he can list my one million weaknesses, but remember there's a scripture that says (and I quote), "in my weakness His strength is made PERFECT."

30+...u're very welcome. I pray you have nothing less than a fantabulous week ahead of u...

Anonymous said...

inspiring stuff as alwayz..u write so well too

Hephzibah said...

Jaycee, thanks for stopping at mine.
I realy like ur blog, makes me so unserious wt my God. But am glad as this has really inspired and challneged me. I'm off to writing better things and using more opportunity to proclaim His goodness. let me go read up on you.

An-Igbo-Dude said...

the flesh is really weak...

how much i love to give my "musical instrument" to God but....e no easy, i keep on failing.

princesa said...

I think this post was meant for me dear.
Been giving my guitar to the devil for a while now...
O God take control!

Uzo said...

You know me and music...saw this start with a flamenco guitar and i was enraptured...You...are just amazing

♥♫♪nyemoni♫♪♥ said...

OOOOOHHHH naaaawwww...Update again now?

Kafo said...

mercy
i've missed this

thanks

Ms. emmotions said...

hmmmm,
this is an interesting read i must confess,

Naija Chickito said...

"Who will you present your strings to? Choose this day...there are two teachers, but you only need one..."

It's one or the other. If you don't consciously choose, the flesh chooses for you and the devil takes control. We need to pray for grace each day to overcome and constantly yield our bodies to the Lord. Thanks Pastor:-) Love you.

Lighty 'neferet' Kopearl said...

thank you for this words of encouragement, i think at this point in my life, i need to here this, "I never knew I could experience anything better than my past," obviously now i know i can.

and 'broken' on ur playlist is excatly what it is. thnkx jayceee. muah*

chichi said...

WOW! wot can I say... this mssg is deep... and so true; we need to CHOOSE rigteousness; and surrender our spirt, mind and body to God so he makes it a temple.

BBEAUTIFUL POST BABES... wetin i expect b4 sha!! bless u