As my 9-year-old daughter's voice rang out through the church sanctuary, I recalled the times I sang solos as a child.
I needed to share with her what I didn't understand back then...
My talents and gifts are given to me by God. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights" James 1:17 ESV
God gave me the gift...so it needs to be shared for His glory not mine. "...Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV
If I feel anxious or afraid to use my gift, I need to talk to God about it through prayer before I use it. "Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7 ESV
If my heart is set on using my gift for God, then no matter what the outcome, I have already succeeded because a heart set on Jesus matters more than anything else in this world. "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." Colossians 3:2 ESV