Sweet Surrender

1 Thessalonians 2:4
"But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts."

    I started writing a song a few weeks back centered around the verse above, and have been thinking a lot about the gifts God has given me and the manner I tend to use those gifts in. The gift of music is one thing I'm certain God has blessed me with and I know I'm called to use my gift in it's purest form - to worship Him.
    However, I find that although I know my gift in music is to be used to glorify God, I'm still self conscious. I sometimes focus more on myself and musical "screw ups" than on worshiping Him. I'm worried I'll hit the wrong note. I'm worried about what others may think. I compare myself to other musical artists and feel sub-par, etc.
    This discourages me, and if these thoughts start invading my brain before worship time, I have to really pray that God keeps my focus on Him and nothing else. I have gotten to the point (on multiple occasions) where I felt I should just quit doing music because of the struggle. I had talked myself into thinking I wasn't good enough, I was never satisfied with my "performances", and in the end, the struggle just didn't seem worth it.
    When thinking through this and how I've often neglected using music solely to worship God, I had an image come to mind. In the image, I was standing on a church stage, worshiping. When I looked out towards the "crowd" I saw only one being, God. He gave me a cheerful loving smile, one that showed He was proud of me... and because He was the only one in the sanctuary, I was able to focus on Him and nothing else. He was the only one I wanted to "impress", and that desire to "impress" quickly transformed into a heart of worship where I poured my heart out to God. It became a safe haven, a place to dwell in His love and grace. I wasn't focused on myself anymore. All that mattered was that I was using my music for God, and knew that he was pleased with it. It didn't matter if I hit a wrong note or looked awkward (or whatever other thoughts plague my mind at times)... all that mattered was that my focus was on Him. Simply focusing on Him freed me from those selfish, self-deprecating thoughts/desires. I was simply using what God gave me for HIM. It was a beautiful image that I will never forget.
     And this goes for any gift/passion, whether it be drawing, writing, wisdom, intelligence, photography, music, whatever... He'll use all of it. I know that God can and will use my gift of music to reach other people's hearts, and He will use it to bring them to Himself. He's not asking me to sing perfectly before he does it. He's not asking me to look cool while doing it. He's not asking me to be the best musician in the world. He's just asking me to use my gift in it's purest form... to worship Him, the one and only God.

Verse 1:
Singing in an empty room
Except for one, that one is You
A wistful heart that wants to please
You remind me and help me see

Pre-Chorus:
Each word I sing,
Each note that's played
It's all for you
Not me, but You...

Chorus:
Let this be my sweet surrender
It's all for You...
Let this be my sweet surrender
Focusing on only You

Verse 2:
Pride is empty vanity
I boast in none, except for You
My weakness keeps me on my knees,
You make it clear so I can see...

Bridge:
To look to You, not them, not me
It sets me free, You set me free