Some of life's lessons come from music

Every little thing we do, everything we say matters


I have a new favorite song. I always have my car radio tuned in to my favorite Christian channel but have to admit while I listen to the music and sometimes sing along to my favorite songs  — ok only when I am alone in the car, my husband will be the first to tell you it is better that way — there are other times when it serves more as background noise. I guess I have my mind trained to think the car won’t run without the radio on.
This morning though, a certain song caught my attention. It was “Do Everything” by Steven Curtis Chapman. The lines that hit home were, “do everything you do to the glory of the one who made you…do every little thing you do to bring a smile to His face.”
Those couple of lines put a whole new perspective on my life and day. Are they new concepts or something I didn’t know before? No, they aren’t. But put in such a simple way makes it so clear. Everything, every little thing we do, every word we speak, our every action, our facial expressions, our attitudes, everything should be done to the glory of God. Wow. I don’t think I have ever looked at it quite that way before today.
1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
I believe that doing things to the glory of God means we should honor him by acting and speaking in a way that pleases Him. Or like the song says “brings a smile to His face.” Think about it. Don’t you want to bring a smile to our Father’s face? I know I do.
Will everything I do be pleasing to God? No. Can I get to the point where most of what I do is pleasing to Him on my own? No again.
1 Peter 4:11 says, “If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
It is only through the strength and grace of God that we can reach for the place we need to be. We have to know that everything we are and everything we do in our Christian walk comes through the Father’s love for us. Every choice we make, every desire we have, each word we speak should come from delight in the One who created us.
Before we let circumstances put us in a bad mood where we are snapping at other people around us or frustrated by a long line at the grocery store or grumbling about the driver who cut us off, we need to stop and ask ourselves, “Am I acting in a way that glorifies God?” If the answer is no, maybe we should turn over what is bothering us to the Lord and trust Him to put us in the right frame of mind. After all, when others see us acting in a way that “puts a smile on God’s face” maybe it will inspire them to want to put a smile on His face, too.
Matthew 5:16 says, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”