Jason.Brooks.Stansel

“Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though is cost all you have, get understanding. Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor.” Proverbs 4:7-8

I woke up early this morning and was thinking about Christmas, it’s meaning, and what it is that we celebrate today. Do you ever have those moments of intense affection for the Lord? When you realize just how small you are and how big He is? I had one of those moments today; all my worries, all my fears, all my anxieties melted away and I was totally in awe of the Lord. What He revealed to me this morning was that I have my eyes focused on the wrong thing. I have become obsessed with a dream that may or may not be the dream He has for me.

I think this is something we all may struggle with. We figure out something we are good at, in my case it’s music, and we run with it. We throw all our energy, tears, worth, future, and passion into that one thing and treat it as if it were our saviour, as if that certain talent will be able to save us. What I have realized tonight, and this is so liberating, is that I don’t have to trust in my talents for redemption! This may sound extremely basic, but I think a lot of us really do think this way without realizing it.

What I mean is this: I feel like we are so captured by the thought of becoming great, because we are made in the Image of God and He is great, we forget what it really means. Greatness in the kingdom of God comes with humility, self-sacrifice, wisdom, love, patience, kindness, and servility. Practically, what this means is that next time you or I pick up our guitars, our cameras, or our pens, we don’t have to create from a place of fear, anxiety, or distress. Instead, we can know that greatness lies in something far greater than our talents and create from a place of freedom. We can speak from a place of freedom. And we can wholly reflect who we are in our creation. Do you see the parallel? When we are using our talents, the focus should be less on being the best and more on being US. And, ironically, I think people who have achieved real success in their art are those who have realized this a long time ago.

I just can’t help but be honored and humbled today. This day symbolizes the birth of the One who gives ultimate freedom and life and, for me, the beginning of refocusing my eyes on the true prize: not music, but Jesus.