“But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen!  Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22, NLT)

 

Early in my walk with God, about six years in, I began to experience God in such amazing ways, that I still can’t explain how He did the things He did, supernaturally. I had experienced God before, but during this season, He amazed me because this was a different kind of experience. One incident in particular happened at a church that I was attending. On this particular Sunday, I was on the church bus headed to church services when I heard the Holy Spirit say, “Go tell your pastor that I am going to do something special in the house today.”

 

I didn’t know what He meant by that, but immediately upon arrival at the church I went to the pastor’s office and relayed the message. “Sister, I know you're not lying because someone just came and gave me the same message,” he stated.

 

After I left his office, I made my way to the sanctuary and sat down in the second row and immediately went into prayer, which is what I always did on Sunday mornings along with fasting. My time at this church was very peculiar to me. I was given much favor with the pastor and his family, just so God could use me. But this day, God really used me.

 

During my prayer, I heard the Holy Spirit say, “Look up and tell me what you see.”

 

I looked up toward the stage area, we were in a large warehouse and a stage had been built for the pastor to preach and the praise team to minister in song, “I see the instruments on the stage,” I responded.

 

“I want music in my house,” He declared. We had a keyboardist, an 8-year-old drummer (who was amazing) and a bass player (the bus driver).

 

“I want you to lay hands on the musicians and tell them, I want music in my house. Then I want you to play the piano,” He instructed.

 

Sweat broke out on my forehead, accompanied by trembling, with an intense heat that overtook my body as I laid draped across the chair next to me. I almost fainted, literally! As the praise team took their places, I could only lay there, weak with fear. Then the First Lady took to the podium and began to speak. “Get up now!” He ordered, and I jumped up from my seat and interrupted the service.

 

“Excuse me, First Lady, but God told me He wants me on the stage with the musicians,” I declared trembling and embarrassed.

 

She paused for a moment then returned, “Okay, do what God is telling you to do.”

 

I wasn’t shocked because any way the Holy Spirit wanted to move, they just let Him. So, I gingerly meandered to the stage, laid hands on each musician declaring that God wanted music in His house and took my place at the electric piano. As I did, one of the deacons came up onto the stage, tapped the 8-year-old drummer and relieved him of his seat, then he sat down at the drums. As the praise team began to get into position, I turned to the keyboardist who sat behind me and inquired, “How to you cut this thing on?”

 

He pointed to the button on the side of the electric piano, which I clicked on and just sat there. Music began to be played as the praise team sang melodiously, but I just gazed in despair at the electric piano in front of me. I briefly took a quick glance at the congregation that I was actually facing from the front of the stage, the other two musicians were seated behind me. With a front row seat, I put my hands on the keys and utter noise came out. I pulled my hands back, closed my eyes, and looked up to heaven declaring, “You will have to do this through me, I release control to You.”

 

Then I heard the Holy Spirit say, “Find middle C.”

 

I remembered middle C as a child, yearning to play piano, but only having about three lessons. My desire was still present, but my skills were definitely lacking. I found middle C, then played a C-chord. With both hands on the keys, suddenly, I heard what sounded like an explosion in the atmosphere, and the entire congregation gasp, “Ahhh.” I kept me eyes closed and began to play beautiful music, following the lead of the other musicians. That was a memorable Sunday morning. After the service was over, the pastor approached me asking, “Sister, did you rehearse that with the band?”

 

“No, Sir, I didn’t,” I answered, with my head hung low, not wanting to make eye contact with him. I just knew I was in big trouble. As I made my way to the church bus and took my seat, my neighbor and friend, who was seated in front of me scolded, “Hussy, you never told me you can play piano.”

 

I froze like a deer in the headlights, trying to figure out how to explain what happened. “I can’t, God played it,” I responded, realizing, she probably didn’t believe me. I wouldn’t have. You probably don’t either. I can’t blame you. Stop laughing, I’m trying to.

 

After I returned home, I sat quietly reflecting on the events of that morning, but I just couldn’t make any sense of it. “Lord, how did you do that!” I shouted.

 

It was then that one of the greatest lessons of my life was taught to me. The Holy Spirit spoke, “All I need is a yielded vessel, and I can do anything through you.”

 

It was then that I remembered 1 Samuel 15:22, which tells us that “…obedience is better than sacrifice.” He also showed me something I really had not noticed in that season; that I was not knowingly active in any form of sinful behavior, and I was completely yielded to the will of God. Whatever He told me to do, I did it, whatever He told me to speak, I spoke it, without question. I did not say, without fear, for there was much fear, but no doubt. I fully obeyed His will and His word spoken to me.

 

The Lord, continued to expound upon that understanding in later years, when my church was doing a bible study on the book called, “Experiencing God” by Henry Blackaby. One statement caught my attention, when the author said, “If you want to experience God, go find out what God is doing and be a part of it.”

 

That was the defining statement of my life. I live by it even now. I learned that God can, and will do amazing things through His children, if we are obedient to His will and faithful to His word. God is always moving and doing extraordinary things, but if we are out of His will due to sinfulness or disobedience, we will miss Him.

 

God played that electric piano through me for almost three months, until I let fear run me off the stage. Every time I would sit down after that day, I would hear the devil remind me, “You know you can’t play.”

 

I should’ve countered him with, “I am not playing anything. God is. And 'I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength'” (Philippians 4:13, NLT). I had submitted to God, but I neglected to “…resist the devil which would cause him to flee” (See James 4:7).

 

So, I urge my brothers and sisters, and I often have to remind myself also to; stay in the Will of God and obey the Word of God. From this vantage point, you will experience the supernatural power of God, and you will most definitely stand in awe of Him. I still do!!!

 

Prayer:

Father, I desire to experience all Your goodness and Your amazing power. Help me to be able to hear You, and walk with You in complete intimacy, and trust. Help me also to obey You; especially when fear is present in my heart and mind. And Thank You in advance for doing amazing works through me and for doing amazing things for me. You are so amazing, and I am so grateful that You share Yourself with me and through me. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen!