I could not have done it for myself.  It is an impossible task for a human.  On my own, I am a failure.  So I am grateful that Jesus thought of me and paid the price for me.  But not just that He paid the price, He brought me back into God’s Kingdom and I now have access to all the riches of the Kingdom.  All that I allowed the enemy to take from me when I did not understand the fullness of God’s saving grace, I am now able to reclaim.  As a child of the King, I now have the authority to reclaim my stuff.  I can now walk in authority because I have reclaimed my royal status.  When I open my mouth to speak, The Holy Spirit fills it with what I must say, speaking as an oracle for My Master.  With this knowledge, I now lift His name High, above all other names.  How do I do this?  I give Him praise.  I cannot do anything without Him.  He is the one who works through me.  Therefore, all honour and glory, all the praises belong to Him because He alone is worthy.

Could I have gone and reclaimed my stuff from the enemy, had Jesus not done the groundwork? No! I could not.  I would still be stuck in a rut today.  Jesus made it possible for me to have the power to rebuke all things negative from my life and loose the spirit of truth that sets me free from the deception that held me bound.  Jesus made it possible for me to live peaceably with all men because while He was hanging from the cross, with only a few breath left in Him, He said, “Father, Forgive them, for they know not what they do.” That was the greatest lesson for me as I struggled with being a neglected child.  Today when I’m wronged by anyone, I am able to say, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.  I don’t need to carry it like a burden, anymore, knowing Christ bore it all for me.  Therefore, I am free to praise Him for all He has done and is doing for me, through me and in me.

He said if I stay in His love, His joy will remain in me and my joy will be full[1].  In order for me to stay in His love, I have to follow His command; doing what He tells me to do.  He said that the world will not love me for it, but as long as I continue in His love, He calls me friend.  What a deal!  I love my Lord for everything He has done for me.  The least I can do, in gratitude, is to do what He tells me to do.  And I don’t have to wait forever to see His favour, His joy is ignited within me and it is not based on my circumstance in life.  It is based on my relationship with Him; He calls me friend[2]. Wow!

So whenever I sing this song, I’m reminded not to hide my gifts because the gifts that God has given to me are there to help me worship Him.  It is with my gifts that I will praise Him and as I praise Him, He will use my praise to draw others closer to Him.  That’s the purpose of my gift.  It is not for self-praise it is to honour Him and bring glory to His name.

To God be the glory! Hallelujah!

 
© J. S. Ramkissoon 2010