On the very first day of the year, I heard my daughters intensely singing this line of song; “Lord, make me a practical instrument for you, use me Lord!” They both sang it so intensely and repeatedly that I had to join them in singing. Then it dawned on me that, there is no greater commitment and prayer for the new year than, “…use me, Lord!”

Friend, there is no greater commitment you can make this new year than a commitment to be relevant to God and His purpose on earth. “For David, after he had served his own generation according to the will of God…” (Acts 13:36). Service to God and humanity must be your top priority this new year. While you are expecting God to do great stuff for you, I charge you to also resolve in your heart to do great stuff for God in your generation.

Your relevance to God and your generation is connected to your life of service. David’s name became immortalized in the history of the Israel nation because of service (Acts 13:36). Ultimately, it is what we do in advancing the life of others that would truly count before God. Service is the cure for self-centeredness. Service says, “I quit living for me, myself and I; I choose to pour my life in honour of Jesus and in the service of my generation”.

Service begins with the right posture of heart. It is knowing that God has not brought you here on earth to live for yourself. “And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:15). You have been saved to serve, and you serve to save yourself; service preserves (Malachi 3:17-18, 2 Timothy 1:9).

In the Kingdom, availability is more important than ability. This was why Paul instructed Timothy that, “…commit to faithful men who would be able…” (2 Timothy 2:2). It is faithful men that would be able, not able men that would be faithful. Faithfulness is seen in availability, and availability is the platform for ability. This year, be available for God; be available for service. Don’t prove busyness at the expense of your relevance to God and His Kingdom (Matthew 6:33).

In life, you are either useful, useless or abused. When you prioritize God, you become useful, when you focus on yourself, you become useless, and when the devil gets a hold of you, you become abused. Let God engage you, before the devil entangles you. Be available for service in Church, your family, your place of work, your community etc. It is those who are used that become useful (Psalms 78:70-72). Let God use you! Amen!

© ‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria