Ink from a borrowed pen?

Growing up, I was made to sing Whitney Houston’s song – Greatest Love over and over. Every time there was a special event or presentation we would come out in numbers singing the words of the song as the audience would clap and cheer. The thing is I never really understood the depth of the lyrics as a child.

I’ve decide long ago never to walk in anyone’s shadow,

If I fail, if I succeed, at least I’ll live as I believe,

No matter what they take from me,

They can’t take away my dignity …

In these lyrics of courage, there is something of depth that says that I will live what I believe and I will shine regardless of interference.    

There is a purpose for which I was created and that is to show forth the glory of God.

Using an ink from a borrowed pen, would only defeat the purpose for which I was created.

Shining through the eyes of another other than God would only reduce the power in my creation.

Walking in the victories of others, would only mean that the power of creation is too small to work the same victories through me.

I look at the title of this piece as I write and thoughts flip through my mind. I cannot constantly live my life on someone else’s ink; I cannot hide through another’s light and shine through a borrowed mirror. I need my own pen and my mirror.

The reality of it all is that we have the permission of God to hold up our own pen and mirror,

We have the permission of God to shine as lights,

We have the permission of God to be who He has called us to be,

We have the permission of God to be the best,

We have the permission of God to achieve the best but somehow we find ourselves seeking out the permission of the world in our daily living.

You may ask how am I using an ink from a borrowed pen:

When you can’t take major decisions on your own and you rely on answers from the society and trends,

When people’s opinion is the fuel on which your life runs,

When you constantly refuse every opportunity to shine,

When you walk in someone else’s shadow and being,

When you allow people take advantage of you,

When your life is a constant struggle to be like someone else,

What this means is that you are giving people the permission to prevent the light God has given you from shining through and through, leaving you dry and unattractive.

God has given you a pen and an ink: God has given you a body and His Spirit, which makes God’s Glory abound to you. God’s glory is His beauty, His splendour, His very being, the light of His presence and that is what you have been created for. (Isaiah 43:7)

Stop using someone else’s ink to create a remix of Gods purpose for your life, use your God given pen and ink. God’s glory can be seen in your music, fashion, relationship, family and everything in between. You just need to decide whose voice has the microphone in your life, the voice of God or the people’s voice.

Looking around, life keeps moving, seems like there’s a template of how everything should be, there’s a template for fashion, a template for music, a template for opinions, a template for relationships, a template for life itself but as I pen this down, I am reminded of the lyrics of Casting Crowns in WHAT IF HIS PEOPLE PRAYED.

What if the armies of the Lord
Picked up and dusted off their swords
Vowed to set the captives free
And not let Satan have one more

What if the church, for heaven's sake
Finally stepped up to the plate
Took a stand upon God's promise
And stormed hell's rusty gates

What if His people prayed
And those who bear His name
Would humbly seek His face, yeah
And turn from their own way

And what would happen if we prayed
For those raised up to lead the way
Then maybe kids in school could pray
And unborn children see the light of day

What if the life that we pursue
Came from a hunger for the truth
What if the family turned to Jesus
Stopped asking Oprah what to do

So then I resolve to pray,

 I resolve never to hide behind another’s success,

I resolve never to walk in the shadow of another,

I resolve to be Gods glory,

I resolve to be what I believe,

I resolve to silence every voice contrary to God’s voice,

I resolve to use my God given pen and ink to write my name and purpose in the sand of time, so help me God.

LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE BEFORE MENT THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.

SHINE PEOPLE; LET’S SHINE.